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.”