Rapson Set to Continue Rowing Career at United States Naval Academy

5/16/2026 - Justin Scott

Lowell HS senior Connor Rapson did not enter high school expecting rowing to become one of the defining parts of his life.

He joined Lowell crew as a… if I can do a little op-ed… smaller freshman after seeing the program at freshman orientation. At first, it simply sounded interesting and gave him something to do. There was also one added bonus.

“They also offered free food at each race,” Rapson told Red Arrow Preps jokingly.

That introduction eventually grew into a path that will take Rapson to one of the most respected institutions in the country. Rapson is set to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he will continue his rowing career as a lightweight. He is one of three LHS rowers going on to compete collegiately along with Gabs Stodola (Toledo) and Brooke Shellenbarger (Eastern Michigan). Indeed, Lowell HS has been churning out quality rowers at a high clip the last few years with Logan Bledsoe (Michigan Tech) in the college ranks now as well.

Rapson’s recruiting process was not a simple waiting game. He said he knew he was not the type of athlete who could sit back and expect coaches to come to him, so he spent much of the year reaching out, sending emails, making phone calls and updating college programs on his progress.

“The recruitment process was a lot of email and phone calls updating coaches year round,” Rapson said. “I’m not a top athlete, so I had to do a lot of reaching out to coaches and keeping them updated.”

Of course, Rapson is being a little humble, having broken Lowell Crew records as a sophomore. He earned the Red Arrow Award at the end of his freshman season. A significant contributor and leader with GRR. He’s undoubtably an excellent rower.

Connor Rapson with his mom, Courtney, during his freshman rowing season in 2023.

During the fall of his senior year, Rapson took several official and unofficial visits to help narrow down his options. By the end of the process, his top choices were Mercyhurst, a small Catholic school in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the Naval Academy.

Ultimately, the Naval Academy offered the right combination of academics, athletics, service and challenge.

“In the end, I chose to go to the Naval Academy due to the guaranteed job out of college, tuition is free, a place to surround myself with challenges and people motivated to overcome the challenges, and to serve the country,” Rapson said. “Also, the Naval Academy is one of the top colleges in the United States, so it’s an honor to be able to attend it.”

From a rowing standpoint, Navy also gave Rapson a chance to compete as a lightweight while joining a highly competitive team.

Rapson’s development as a rower continued after he moved from Lowell’s school program to GR Rowing. He said the club helped him grow both physically and mentally, while surrounding him with coaches and athletes who were deeply committed to the sport.

“GR Rowing helped me truly push myself,” Rapson said. “The coaching has been nothing short of amazing and I felt like I fit right in the moment I got there.”

Rapson said one of the biggest differences was the level of commitment throughout the club. Because GR Rowing is not simply a school sport, he felt the athletes there truly wanted to be part of it. It also gave him a chance to meet people from outside Lowell who he may not have met otherwise.

The training was also different.

“GR Rowing is different from Lowell as it’s definitely more physically demanding due to the different workouts,” Rapson said. “Also the coaches have a lot more rowing experience, which helps them apply what they learned rowing into our rowing. The culture was also just better and it felt more like home.”

Connor joined Grand Rapids Rowing in the fall of 2024. He was part of a quarter of Lowell rowers that joined GR in 2024.

That environment helped prepare him for what comes next at the Naval Academy, where athletics are built into daily life. Sports at the academy compete at a high level, and Rapson knows the expectations will be demanding.

“Sports at the academy are tough as, in the end, they are Division 1 level,” Rapson said. “Sports also play a big part of everyday life at the academy.”

At the Naval Academy, every midshipman is required to participate in athletics or complete additional running for exercise. Wrestling and boxing are also required classes for graduation. Because sports are such a major part of academy life, practice time is built into the daily schedule after the academic day.

Rapson will also be entering one of the most tradition-rich athletic environments in the country. Navy and Army compete each year in the Star Series, where one Army-Navy matchup in each sport is designated as the star game. The winner earns a star that is worn on the varsity Navy sweater.

Connor on Reeds Lake in the spring of 2026.

Football also carries major academy-wide traditions. Rapson said the entire brigade of midshipmen attends every home football game, marches to the stadium together and travels to the annual Army-Navy football game.

During senior honors night, Rapso was announced as one of the approximately 1,400 U.S. Naval Academy appointees for the class of 2026. It’s a rare honor. Nearly 16,000 applications come through to the U.S. Naval Academy each year. The appointment includes full room and board and tuition in Annapolis.

The announcement was one of the special awards at the end of the night and earned a well deserved standing ovation from the crowd. Rapson and the rest of his class will walk the graduation stage on Thursday!

Rapson is honored as a Naval Academy Appointee at Senior Honors Night in May 2026.