WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Senior captain
William Densmore of the third-ranked Williams College men's crew team was honored with a specialty award by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA), as he earned the annual Comeback Athlete of the Year accolade Friday afternoon.
This honor is presented to a student-athlete who has shown significant improvement with perseverance, determination and dedication. Densmore raced in the first varsity eight boat for the Ephs during his first three years at Williams. Prior to this season, he won a gold medal (2023) and silver medal (2024) during the Division III varsity eight event at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship.
In December 2025, Densmore experienced severe chest pain while breathing and was admitted to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed three large blood clots in his left lung, which caused permanent damage to some lung tissue. After a four-day hospital stay, he was discharged and prescribed blood-thinning medication that he will take for the rest of his life.
Doctors advised Densmore that he could return to training as his pain became manageable, and by January, he was back with the team. Densmore experienced many ups and downs throughout the winter and spring, training and racing through pain over the entire season. He truly led by example, never complained, never missed a practice and always gave his best effort.
Despite the setback, Densmore ultimately earned a seat in the second varsity eight boat during the spring 2026 season and helped lead his crew to a gold medal during the IRA National Championship. The Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, native secured a silver medal with the second varsity eight during the 2026 National Invitational Rowing Championship (NIRC)/NESCAC Championship.
