Dashiel Withnall
Stroke seat. 1st VIII at St Joseph's Nudgee College, Brisbane. Queensland State Championship medalist seeking a US collegiate rowing opportunity.
Dashiel Withnall is a 17-year-old competitive rower from Brisbane, Australia, currently in his final year at St Joseph's Nudgee College — one of Queensland's most prestigious GPS rowing schools. He rows stroke seat in the 1st VIII, setting the rhythm and rate for the crew — a position that demands technical precision, composure, and leadership.
Dash is defined by his commitment to mastery. He brings a rare combination of physical power, technical discipline, and psychological maturity to the boat. His approach to training and competition is informed by stoic philosophy and a deep belief that adversity is the forge of character.
Beyond the boathouse, Dash excels in mathematics, science, and philosophy. He is a conservative, values-driven young man who seeks a US collegiate experience that will challenge him intellectually, develop him as an athlete, and shape his character for life beyond the water.
"Pressure is privilege."
Dash's guiding principle — the foundation of everything he does
| Date | Regatta / Event | Boat | Seat | Crew Time | Pace /500m | Dash Power | Slip | Rating | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24 | QLD State Champs — U21 8+ | VIII+ | Stroke | 9:06.4 | 2:08.2 | 313W | 12.6° | 25 spm | 🥉 3rd | Report |
| Jan 24 | QLD State Champs — U19 Eights Heat | VIII+ | Stroke | 6:08.3 | 1:34.6 | 446W | 9.0° | 36.5 spm | 🥉 3rd | Report |
| Jan 25 | QLD State Champs — Open Men's Final | VIII+ | Stroke | 6:13.5 | 1:34.8 | 337W | 13.4° | 34.3 spm | — | Report |
| Jan 31 | BBC Regatta — Race 1 | VIII+ | Stroke | 6:03.1 | 1:32.1 | 304W | 7.9° | 35.9 spm | — | Report |
| Feb 7 | Terrace Regatta — Race 2 | VIII+ | Stroke | 6:07.1 | 1:33.8 | 319W | 8.1° | 35.2 spm | — | Report |
| Feb 14 | Nudgee Regatta — U21 Final | VIII+ | Stroke | 5:58.2 | 1:30.6 | 335W | 6.1° | 36.1 spm | — | Report |
2026 QLD State Championship — Individual Medal Results
Most events contested of any Nudgee athlete on Day 1. Also entered the single scull in challenging heat conditions.
Key Technical Story: Catch Slip Improvement
Over just three weeks (Jan 24 to Feb 14), Dash reduced his catch slip from 12.6° to 6.1° — a 52% improvement in blade entry efficiency. This demonstrates exceptional coachability and rapid technical adaptation. His wash (extraction efficiency) improved 21% in the same period. These gains drove measurable crew boat speed improvements from 6:13.5 to 5:58.2.
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Founded 1883 · ~52,000 students · SEC Conference
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX · Founded 1876 · ~74,000 students · SEC Conference
Texas Christian University (TCU)
Fort Worth, TX · Founded 1873 · ~12,000 students · Big 12 Conference
Baylor University
Waco, TX · Founded 1845 · ~20,000 students · Big 12 Conference
Note: Men's rowing in Texas operates at ACRA (club) level, not NCAA varsity. However, Texas Crew at UT Austin is one of the strongest club programs in the US — ACRA National Champions with an undefeated 2024/25 season. For NCAA Division I men's varsity rowing, programs exist at schools like University of Washington, Wisconsin, Stanford, and the Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton). Dash is open to the right program fit — contact below to discuss.
Core Subjects
Full academic transcript and ATAR prediction to be provided upon request. School results folder will be updated with official documentation.
Intellectual Profile
Dash has a deep love of stoic philosophy. He applies frameworks of discipline, delayed gratification, and purposeful suffering to both his training and daily life. His mental approach to competition draws heavily from stoic principles of controlling only what is within your power.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown — the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their quest for Olympic gold. This book encapsulates everything Dash values: teamwork, perseverance, and the triumph of working-class determination.
Zero-compromise approach to health, training, and preparation. Dash is methodical — from pre-session checklists to post-race reflection. He prepares the night before, arrives early, and treats every session as an opportunity for mastery.
52% improvement in catch slip over three weeks demonstrates Dash's ability to rapidly absorb and implement coaching feedback. He seeks correction, embraces the process, and translates instruction into measurable on-water gains.
Dash works with sports psychology frameworks. He has structured mental performance routines for pre-race, in-race, and post-race states. His core belief: every adversity is a learning opportunity.
Dash actively uses telemetry data to refine his technique. He understands force curves, slip angles, power distribution, and rate strategy at a level uncommon for schoolboy athletes. He can speak the language of data-driven rowing.
Dash is a values-driven young man. He respects institutions, believes in individual responsibility, and lives simply. He seeks a university environment that aligns with his commitment to discipline, purpose, and personal accountability.
Dash's rowing hero is Rick Long, a rower who earned his place at Princeton. Dash doesn't just want to row in the US — he wants the transformative life experience that comes with pursuing excellence in a foreign country, surrounded by people who share his drive.
Racing Mantras
Dash uses structured mental frameworks in competition. These are the personal mantras that guide his race-day performance:
⚠ Data Gap Tracker — Items Needed for Complete Profile
Athlete Contact
Family Background
Dash is the fourth of five siblings to his parents Marc and Susie. The Withnall family is a low-key, Brisbane-based family. Marc owns and operates waste collection businesses, and Susie serves as the financial officer of Kuranda Industries. There's nothing flashy about the family — just hard work, strong values, and a quiet commitment to giving their kids every opportunity to succeed. Dash's drive to row in the US comes from his own ambition, not family legacy. He wants to earn his place.