Cornell University Athletics

• IRA All-Academic Team (2019)
• IRA All-Academic Team (2017)

As a senior (2018-19)
• Rowed in eight regattas as a senior, splitting his time between the second and third Varsity eight boats.
• Competed on the second Varsity eight boats in races against Harvard with George Washington and Navy with Syracuse (Stagg Trophy).
• Also rowed on the second Varsity eight boat at the Cornell Autumn Classic.
• Competed on the first Varsity four boat against Georgetown and Penn, helping Cornell sweep the two schools and hoist the James Wray Memorial Trophy.
• Occupied the seventh seat on the third Varsity 8 boats at the 2019 EARC Sprints and 2019 IRA National Championships.
• Helped the third Varsity eight win the Third Level Final to finish in 13th place at the IRA National Championships.

As a junior (2017-18)
• Rowed in the third varsity eight during the 2017-18 season.
• Helped the third varsity eight to a sixth place finish in the Petite Final at the 2018 IRA National Championships, placing 12th overall.
• Led the third varsity eight to a second-place finish in the Petite Final at the 2018 EARC Sprints to take eighth place finish overall.

As a sophomore (2016-17)
• Began his sophomore season as a member of the second varsity eight before moving to the varsity eight mid-season.
• Helped the varsity eight take a sixth-place finish in the Petite Final at the 2017 IRA National Championships, placing twelfth overall.
• Rowed the varsity eight to a solid victory in the Petite Final at the 2017 EARC Sprints with a time that would have placed them ahead of sixth-place Brown’s pace in the Grand Finals.
• Also defeated Penn with the varsity eight, winning the Madeira Cup.

As a freshman (2015-16) 
• Helped the third varsity eight to victories over Syracuse and Navy in a battle for the Stagg Points Plate, before helping the second varsity eight to a win over Penn and Dartmouth for the James Wray Memorial Trophy.
• At the 2016 Eastern Sprints he helped the second varsity eight to a second place finish in the Petite Finals to take eighth place overall.
• At the IRA National Championship he rowed in the third varsity eight that also placed second in the Petite Finals for an eighth place finish.
• Rowed in the Cornell eight that advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Temple Challenge Cup at the 177th edition of the Henley Royal Regatta.

Prior to Cornell
• Was a three-year letter winner at Groton School.
• As team captain, he led Groton to the 2015 New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) team points trophy for boy's fours.
• Stroked the varsity 4+ that finished fifth at the 2015 Wayland-Weston Regatta.
• During his career, he earned three silver medals at the NEIRA Championship, stroking the second varsity 4+ in 2015, stroking the second varsity 4+ in 2014, and rowing from the third-seat of the fourth varsity 4+ in 2013.
• Also placed 11th in the single at the 2013 Head of the Quinobequin.
• As a freshman, he won Groton’s Rookie of the Year award.
• As a member of the Cambridge Boat Club, Gates rowed in the six-seat of U19 8+ that finished fourth at 2013 Canadian Henley and sixth at 2013 USRowing Club Nationals.
• Also lettered once in cross country and once in swimming at Groton School.
 
Personal
• Michael Wayne Gates is the son of Wayne and Carol Gates and he has one younger brother.
• He comes from an extremely athletic family, as his uncle, Jim Corbett, played football for the University of Pittsburgh and went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals as a tight end.
• Another uncle, Michael Corbett, was drafted out of high school to play baseball for the Detroit Tigers.
• Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.