Cornell University Athletics

Ostrom was captain, stroke, coach and trainer of the Cornell crews in 1875 and 1876 that won the intercollegiate regatta at Saratoga. Cornell won the freshman and varsity races both years. Often referred to as the father of Cornell rowing, Ostrom radically revised the stroke adopted and methods of training, in addition to designing the shells that were used. When Ostrom entered Cornell in 1871, he tried out for and made the freshman baseball team. With his love for boating, Ostrom was quick to respond to the opportunity to try for the rowing crew at Cornell. He quickly qualified and rowed with the freshman crew in the first college regatta in 1872. Ostrom was a civil engineer in Pittsburgh, Pa.