2025-26 Men's Rowing Roster

Thomas Christensen

Rex Bales

  • Class Senior
  • Hometown San Francisco, Calif.
  • High School Saint Ignatius College Prep
  • Major Finance

Biography

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
  • 2024 Empacher-IRCA All-American
  • 2024 First Team All-Western Sprints
  • 2024 First Team All-WIRA (Varsity Eight)
  • Team USA Under-23 National Team Sweep Selection Camp (July 2024)
  • Program-record Erg 2K time: 5:56.1 (Feb. 23, 2024)
  • 2024 IRCA DI Preseason Watchlist selection

JUNIOR (2024-25)

  • 2025 IRCA Athlete Watch List – one of 30 rowers in all of DI/II
  • First Team All-WIRA
  • MPSF All-Academic Team
  • Competed in 15 races for the Toreros 
  • Rowed in the second seat in USD’s first-ever Henley Royal Regatta races in England, upsetting defending champs Oxford Brookes by just two feet in the first round (July 2)
  • Began his junior campaign with a win in the collegiate 4+ race in the No. 2 position at the Head of the Charles Regatta (October 18-20)
  • Competed in both “A” boats in the Collegiate 4+ and the Collegiate 8+ where he finished in first and third place, in respective races at the Head of the American Regatta (October 26)
  • Doubled up in both “A” boats again in the Open 8+ and Open 4+ races, finishing third and second, respectively, during the San Diego Fall Classic (November 10)
  • Recorded a win in the 1V8+ boat against Santa Clara in the Redwood Shores Invitational (March 1-2) 
  • Logged a first-place finish in the Toreros’ 1V8+ boat in the Saturday heat of the San Diego Crew Classic (March 29-30) before a fourth-place finish in the grand finals. 
  • Won a heat before a runner-finish in San Diego’s 1V8+ boat in the grand finals during the WIRA Championships (April 26-27)
  • Registered a fourth-place finish in the MPSF Championships (May 17-18)
  • Helped USD garner its program-best finish in the Varsity 4+ race at the IRA Championships (May 30-June 1), placing 10th out of 39 teams

SOPHOMORE (2023-24)
  • 2024 Empacher-IRCA All-American
  • 2024 First Team All-Western Sprints
  • 2024 First Team All-WIRA (Varsity Eight)
  • Picked to the Team USA Under-23 National Team Sweep Selection Camp in July of 2024
  • Set a program-record Erg 2K time of 5:56.1, achieved on Feb. 23, 2024, breaking a record previously held by Ryan Shelton (USD Class of 2009)
  • Prior to the season, was one of only 20 rowers in the country named to the IRCA’s DI Preseason Watchlist
  • Competed in 10 events across all eight regattas for the Toreros
  • Contributed to wins in the Men’s Open 8+ at the Head of The American (Oct. 28) and the “A” entry of the Men’s Open 4+ at the San Diego Fall Classic (Nov. 12)
  • Registered runner-up finishes at the Head of the Charles (Oct. 22) in the Collegiate 4, The “A” entry of the Men’s Open 8+ in the San Diego Fall Classic (Nov. 12) and the First Varsity Eight of the WIRA Championships (April 27-28)
FRESHMAN (2022-2023)
  • Competed in four races for the Toreros in the First Varsity Eight and Novice Eight
HIGH SCHOOL
  • Attended Saint Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco
  • Rowed in the sixth seat, set a 2K personal record of 6:25.4
  • Also held the freshman 2K school record
  • Was his class' Salutatorian and a student council representative at Saint Ignatius College Prep
  • Also earned a varsity letter playing football
PERSONAL
  • Son of Scott and Janna Bales, born in San Francisco
  • In addition to his finance major, is minoring in theater
  • Participates in USD's theater program and had a part in the 2022 fall play
  • Favorite USD memory is winning the Head of the Charles
  • Likes to surf San Diego's beached in the morning and then get breakfast at Kono's

Historical Player Information

  • 2022-23Freshman

    6'4" 260 lbs
  • 2023-24Sophomore

    6'4" 260 lbs
  • 2024-25Junior

    6'4" 0 lbs
  • 2025-26Senior

    0 lbs