Novice Men

Give a warm welcome to our 2024-2025 novices!

Braulio Landeros - Men's Novice Captain (2025-2026)

Port | Starboard

Chicago, IL

5’10”

Junior - Chemistry & Microbiology

Lane Tech High School

High School: 4 years rowing with the Chicago Rowing Foundation.

Looking Forward To:

“Making Boats go fast.”

Personal: Member of the Illinois Boxing Club & American Chemical Society. Enjoys playing the guitar, volunteering & doing community work, and exploring new places. His favorite meal is atole with tamales!

Harry Sutcliffe

Port | Starboard

Leeds, UK

6’0”

Junior - Civil Engineering

Roundhay High School

High School: Soccer & Cricket

Looking Forward To:

“Spring Break training trip in Gainesville, Georgia.”

Personal: Member of the Illini Steel Bridge team. He loves Yorkshire tea and knows how to juggle!

Elias Fabian

Port | Starboard

Chicago, IL

5’7”

Junior - Chemical Engineering

Von Stuben MSC

High School: Cross Country, Track & Field, Swimming

Looking Forward To:

“Learning proper rowing technique and competing in regattas.”

Personal: Member of the Illini Boxing Club & Illini Pullers. Elias is also an amateur mechanical watch fixer!

Nic Alinger

Port | Starboard

Snoqualimie, WA

5’8”

Grad. - Aerospace Engineering

Seattle Prep

High School & Undergrad: Rowing, Robotics, Human Powered Submarine Team at The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Looking Forward To:

“Sweep rowing and rowing the 8+.”

Personal: Nic likes to hike, read, and loves to root for the Seahawks & Mariners!

Ethan Nievera

Port | Starboard

Willowbrook, IL

5’9”

Senior - Economics

Hinsdale South High School

High School: Orchestra

Looking Forward To:

“Getting 1% better everyday.”

Personal: Member of the Econ club. Ethan plays the piano and enjoys listening to Kino. His favorite food is nilaga.

Ethan Vogel

Port

Evanston, IL

6’1”

Freshman - History and German

Evanston Township High School

High School: Two years of rowing

Novice Year (2024-2025):

Favorite Memories:

Novice Year:

Personal: Has an internship with a law firm and part of the chess team. He says, “I have three dogs and two cats.”

Jack Johnston

Port

Galatia, IL

6’4”

Senior - Political Science

Galatia High School

Novice Year (2024-2025):

Favorite Memories:

Novice Year:

Personal: Part of the Social Gaming Club. Enjoys hiking, cooking, and reading. He says, “I accidentally swam with dolphins once.”

Matthew Bermeo — Men's Team Secretary (2025-2026)

Port

Chicago, IL

5’11”

Freshman - Civil Engineering

St. Ignatius College Prep

High School: Rowed for four years for St. Ignatius.

Novice Year (2023-2024):

Favorite Memories:

Novice Year:

Personal: Enjoys napping and listening to Drake. He says, “I think there’s nothing better than a hot tub and cracking a few cold ginger ales with the boys.”

Santiago Sanchez Castillo

Port/Starboard

Champaign, IL

5’11”

Freshman - Hospitality Management

Unity High School

High School: Soccer, wrestling

Novice Year (2023-2024):

Favorite Memories:

Novice Year: Seeing the sunrise at the lake for the first time

Personal: Member of Illini Boxing, barbell, forensics, campus band, and Film Score Orchestra. He says, “I love music.”