Farmington Rower Commits To Naval Academy's Crew Team

FARMINGTON, CT — When Nick Duncan was in seventh grade, he told Laura Butterfield — his ski instructor and future rowing coach — that he would become the best rower she's ever had.

And he did.

Duncan, who joined the Farmington High School crew team as a freshman, has broken every record on the school's erg machine — making him the fastest rower in the program's history. He attended USRowing's Olympic Development Program, and was recruited to row at several colleges.

Now, he's a graduating senior, and this fall he'll begin rowing for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

"When he decides he wants to do something, there really isn't anything stopping him," said Butterfield, coach of the Farmington High School boys crew team. "He's been successful at many things in his life. He just decides he's gonna do it, and then he goes and does it."

Butterfield first met Duncan when he was the only student in her advanced Ski Sundown class. Every Friday night for five weeks, the two of them were together on the Southington slopes, talking about skiing — and eventually rowing.

It was during those lessons that he told her he would become her best rower ever. And when he joined the high school crew team, he immediately rose above the other novices, prompting Butterfield to pull him up to the varsity team as a freshman, where he remained for four years.

"It's one of those sports where just being naturally talented isn't really a thing. It's just really, whatever you put into it is what you get out of it," Duncan said. "And I love that, because it rewards the hard-working guy."

Last year, Duncan became the first Farmington rower to be chosen for USRowing's Olympic Development Program. During the program, which took place last summer in Florida, he met, practiced with, and competed against other top rowers from across the country.

It was there that he decided he wanted to row in college (he also considered pursuing collegiate basketball), and it was there that coaches began recognizing his talent and recruiting him to their schools.

Among them was the coach of the Naval Academy's crew team, with whom Duncan said he had "an instant connection" when they met in Florida. After touring the Naval Academy's campus and meeting its crew team, he committed to row there.

"They were super, just, kind of trusting. Like, they were always like, you know, 'It's whatever the right decision for you is, it's whatever the right decision for you is,'" Duncan said. "It wasn't anything shady; it was very, just, upfront, and I really liked that."

Duncan hadn't previously considered joining the military, and he also received offers from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.

But he ended up choosing Navy, a decision he said was based on a number of factors — including his connection with the crew coach, his positive impression of the team, and his love of the school's campus.

"It's really just breathtaking, and being able to see the tradition and just the heritage, and everything that goes on there, it's super special," Duncan said. "I knew I wanted to be a part of it and be a part of something special."

Butterfield said she talked about Duncan's decision with him at length. She said she'll miss him, but she thinks the Navy will set him up for success down the line — success he's already experienced in Farmington.

"I told (the Naval Academy) the story about meeting him in seventh grade," said Butterfield, who wrote him a recommendation letter for the school. "He keeps reminding me now, like, 'I told you, coach, I was gonna be the fastest one.'"