For 25 years, Bainbridge Island Rowing has been shaped not only by the athletes who pull the oars, but also by the families who cheer from the shore, drive early‑morning carpools, and witness firsthand how the sport transforms young people. Some of the most powerful stories come from parents who watched rowing become a defining part of their child’s life.
One of those parents is the father of David Miller — known to many as Davey — who shared how BIR became an unexpected and deeply meaningful chapter for his son.
“My experience with BIR is as a parent. BIR has been one of the most positive experiences in my son’s life (David Miller). Though he is 6’7″ tall, he’d never been involved in sports. Tim Goss talked him into giving it a try and it became the most important things in his life for several years thereafter.”
Davey’s rowing journey took off quickly. He became part of a milestone moment for the program:
“Davey was in the first men’s 4 boat from B.I. to go to nationals [in 2012]. I believe they finished 6th nationally. It was very exciting, to say the least.”
His commitment carried him beyond Bainbridge Island. After graduating, he spent two years rowing with the University of Washington squad — but his connection to BIR didn’t end there.
“He then rowed on the UW squad for the next two years. More importantly from my view was that Bruce invited him to be an assistant coach for the high schoolers. He LOVED doing this, and left only when commuting to and from Seattle for work became too time-consuming.”
For Davey’s father, the impact of rowing went far deeper than medals or milestones. It was about watching his son grow into himself — physically, emotionally, and socially.
“As a father, you can imagine how good it felt to know my son was involved in such a worthwhile activity. I would help him in his workouts, and watched with deep satisfaction as he learned about how to take care of his body, and to interact with the other guys on the rowing team. I continue to be incredibly grateful for that.”
In our 25th anniversary year, stories like this remind us why BIR exists — to give young people a place to grow, to challenge themselves, to find belonging, and to carry those lessons into the rest of their lives. Davey’s journey, and his father’s pride, are part of the legacy that has shaped BIR from the beginning.
