The Crimson Blade - Vol 3 (FSJPR)

THE

CRIMSON BLADE WINTER 2013

In Memoriam; Henry Backe, '48 National Team Profile; Jim Moroney, '71 Class Day Bruce Konopka 1

A LETTER FROM JOE KIEFFER President – Friends of St. Joseph Prep Rowing

A Promising Future This has been a banner year for Prep Crew and Friends of St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing (FSJPR).

This past spring, Prep oarsmen amassed numerous medals at Cities, Catholics, Stotesbury, and Nationals, including another Catholic League championship. Our boys in Crimson and Grey had solid fall results, with indications that strong competition from up and down the East coast will await them in the spring.

In the past eighteen months, Prep crew has seen the passing of our two biggest stewards - Henry Backe ’48 and Vince Dougherty ’48. I am sure they are looking down and pleased to see the 87 year history of the Prep rowing tradition continues to be strong with one of the largest and most successful high school rowing programs in the nation. A special thanks to Coach Jim Glavin ’65 and his entire coaching staff for their time and energy in teaching the team the values of hard work, disciple, respect and a winning attitude. The next several weeks will be filled with ergs, weights, and running on Kelly Drive. Winter training builds the mental and physical toughness to win races in the spring.

" The Prep rowing tradition continues to be strong with one of the largest and most successful high school rowing programs in the nation."

The FSJPR mission is to create a formal social network which engages Prep rowing alumni/ friends and encourages further interaction, involvement with the Prep, Prep rowing and fellow rowing alumni. Throughout the year we will provide communication via social media, emails and newsletters, and social events. We will also undertake preserving the legacy Prep rowing and support and motivate current Prep rowers. For many of us, Prep rowing was some of the best experiences of our lives and provided a foundation for success in college and life.

We continue to get our name recognized with FSJPR alumni entries at the Independence Day regatta and Head of the Schuylkill. FSJPR alumni boats will be entering various 2014 regattas, including the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship (Saturday, April 26, 2014) and the Head of the Charles (Saturday, October 18, 2014-pending acceptance). Please contact me directly if you are interest in competing or organizing any of these events. Our social media campaign has grown exponentially over the last year with greater numbers in Linkedin, Facebook subscribers and Twitter followers. All those who have connected on these sites are able to follow Prep rowing with close to real time updates of Prep Crew results and our alumni’s accomplishments. A special thanks to Matt Glaeser ’02 and Harrison Kieffer ’11 for leading the charge in this area.

Being that is only two years old; we need your talents and treasure to help us continue on our mission. Please consider becoming a member of FSJPR, as we will launch our annual membership campaign in January. Your annual membership fee of $25 will help fund many of these events and initiatives. We have lots of ideas and we need more people to step up and take the lead. A description of initiatives and ideas are listed later in this edition. If you would like to become involved in FSJPR, please contact me at jkieffer@email.com or 267-228-1341. Finally, thank you for all thank you contributed over the past few years to Prep rowing with leadership gifts and contributed to the ‘brick program’.

Go Prep!

Joe Kieffer ‘84 President – Friends of St. Joseph Prep Rowing

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Inside The Issue The Newsletter for Alumni & Friends of St. Joseph's Prep Rowing Published 3 times a year President Joe Kieffer '84 Vice President Tony Horvat '75 Treasurer Rick Wegryn '82

A man for others

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Secretary Matthew Glaeser '02 Crimson Blade Chief Editors Chris McElroy '84 Shawn Duff '04 FSJPR Governance Board Ray Antonini '71 Joe Backe '82 Bill Barker Shawn Duff '04 Bill Gennaro Sr '79 Larry Hennigan '81 Kevin Kelly '72 Harrison Kieffer '11 Dan Kilpartrick '94 Al Lawn Chris Markam JeanMarie Markam Chris McElroy '84 Kevin McGowan '91 Joe McHale Nick Morinigo '82 Mike Murphy '99 Don Powers '04 Kerry Quinn '06 George Schaefer '73

12 Class Day

FEATURES

20 Class of '09 Q&A

06 A MAN FOR OTHERS

As student athletes, as I was in the early '80s, we sometimes take for granted or are unaware of the support and the efforts expended by our predecessors to keep the program viable.

14 National Team Profile; Jim Moroney, '71 This is the story of one impressive alum who was the first, and youngest Prep Crew alum, to become an Olympian. FSJPR caught up with Jim recently.

16 The Journey of Bruce Konopka

A few weeks ago FSJPR had the opportunity to sit down with Bruce Konopka, Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Development at Episcopal Academy, to talk about his long association with rowing and coaching.

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St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing 2013 Racing Schedule

Sunday, March 16 Flick - Horvat Regatta #1 Philadelphia, PA Sunday, March 23 Flick - Horvat Regatta #2 Philadelphia, PA Sunday, March 30 Flick - Horvat Regatta #3 Philadelphia, PA Sunday, April 6 Flick - Horvat Regatta #4 Philadelphia, PA Saturday, April 12 St.Andrews Middletown, DE Sunday, April 13 Flick - Horvat Regatta #5 Philadelphia, PA Saturday, April 26 Catholic League Champs Philadelphia, PA Sunday, May 4 City Champs Philadelphia, PA Friday & Saturday, May 16-17 Stotesbury Cup Philadelphia, PA Friday & Saturday, May 23-24 SRAA Nationals Camden, NJ Saturday June 7 National School Regatta Saratoga, NY

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Create your Legacy and Name a Prep Racing Shell Become a part of Prep crew legacy by providing a tax deductible leadership gift. In turn you will have the naming rights of one of our new racing shells. If you want to make a difference and for details of the giving levels, please contact the Coach Jim Glavin ‘66 (jim.glavin@gmail.com ), Joe Kieffer ’84, FSJPR President (jkieffer@email.com / 267-228-1341) or the Prep Alumni Office.

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A man for others

In Memoriam; Henry Backe, '48.

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s student athletes, as I was in the early '80s, we sometimes take for granted or are unaware of the support and the efforts expended by our predecessors to keep the program viable. As we move along, we sometimes fail to reflect on what it was that made the legacy, that is Prep Crew, possible.

I knew of Henry during my years rowing out of Penn A.C., and was a classmate of his son, Lou '84, but not until I became part of the program’s infrastructure did I realize what has to happen ‘behind the scenes’ to enable Prep oarsmen to be, successful in fulfilling their rowing goals and those of the program. Without Henry’s dedication, commitment and passion, the program would not be where it is today.

Simply put, when Henry passed this past May 6th, Prep Crew lost its greatest champion.

Henry was Prep Crew alum. He was a member of the LaSalle College Varsity 8 that won Dad Vail in 1952. He then became the director of the Dad Vail Regatta, as position he would hold for 40+ years.

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Perhaps more germane to the Prep Crew family, is that it was also Henry’s dream to have the Prep row out of a home that they could call their own.

His greatest rowing legacy is the Gillin Boathouse, and it was because of his tireless efforts that the Schuylkill was adorned with the first shellhouse to have been erected in 98 years! He was forever present. He was at ground breaking, at the grand As student athletes, as I was in the early ‘80s, we sometimes take for granted or are unaware of the support and the efforts expended by our predecessors to keep the program viable. As we move along, we sometimes fail to reflect on what it was that made the legacy, that is Prep Crew, possible.

His greatest rowing legacy is the Gillin Boathouse, and it was because of his tireless efforts that the Schuylkill was adorned with the first shellhouse to have been erected in 98 years! He was forever present. He was at ground breaking, at the grand opening and most recently at the unveiling of the Honor Board. At last count, there are 3 boats that carry his or his family’s name.

As part of his memorial service, I was witness to the

honor that the Backe family received as a fleet of Prep shells made their way, in procession, past the Gillin dock in reverence to Henry during Stotes weekend.

A very fitting tribute for Henry and his family from Prep Crew.

We are all very fortunate and blessed to have had Henry walk among us. He was a true follower of the Ignatian creed of being “a man for others”.

FSJPR contacted Coaches Chuck Crawford, Bill Lamb and Jim Glavin for their reflections on Henry.

We hope you enjoy what follows.

Reflections from Chuck Crawford Head Coach 1978 to 1987; Frosh and Associate Head Coach 1996 to 2000 I came to know Henry (Hank) as a young man at Penn AC. I was rowing at the time and helping to coach my alma mater Msgr. Bonner with Jim O’Brien, the head coach. Henry was a Steward at Penn AC from that time right up until recently. Rowing out of the Penn AC, back at that time, were Bonner and the Prep.

Henry was very much involved then as “young” Henry, now Dr. Backe was rowing at the Prep. In the fall of 1976, Henry asked me to apply for the SJP crew coaching position. I pondered over it at the time but had already told Jim O’Brien that I would be helping him that year, so declined on applying for the position.

I watched the Prep program that season and saw that the athletes appeared to be of a high enough athletic caliber but they were not receiving the level of coaching that could develop into a top level scholastic program. During the course of the year, my youngest brother Joe decided to enroll at the Prep, as a frosh and after another unfruitful season, the Prep decided to look for a coach again. Henry asked me again to apply, which I did and after interviewing with Jim Murray, was offered the position.

I didn’t really know what a gem of a job that I walked into when I first took over at the Prep. I soon learned that the support of the program from two best friends from the Prep class of ‘48, Vince Dougherty and Henry Backe, would give me the resources to help build the juggernaut program that now exists. Vince was the mentor and father figure to the young rowers and coaches’ back then and Henry was the “Chairman of the Board”.

The first thing that I did was enlarge the program to make it competitive. I knew that if I had enough guys competing, then I’d have a chance of having fast crews.

I’m not sure that the Prep and Jim Murray were ready for what was about to happen but Henry and Vince, were indeed prepared. We were about to quintuple the number of rowers in one year and double that over the next few years. You can imagine my conversations with Jim Murray about needing equipment for all of these guys. He thought I was nuts (which, is by the way, certifiable – just ask Bill Lamb) but I knew that I had Henry Backe watching my back and would get whatever was necessary to be able to succeed. As I said, the first thing that we needed was equipment. We found boats and oars and Henry said “don’t worry about how they get paid for, just do what you do and coach”. I know there were some conversations that took place at 17th and Girard that had some administrators and financial people up tight but bills got paid. We weren’t in the best of equipment the first year but we were competing formidably. The next season, Henry made sure we were in better equipment and we won the Light 8 and the straight 4 in which Coach Lamb rowed at the SRA Nationals. The following year, 1980, we won the 9

Heavy 8 along with three other events at the SRA. A program that had spent maybe $5k or $6K/year, three years ago now was going to Henley and needed to spend ten times as much, as it previously did. How did the Prep crew do it? Quite simply: Henry Backe.

He got the parents organized and found money and resources in cracks that people didn’t know existed.

We raised enough funds to get to Henley with some to spare. He made sure those funds went into a Henley crew endowment fund. That fund started by Henry has grown and sent quite a few more crews to Henley over the years.

With the Prep program growing back then and the facilities at Penn AC bursting at the seams; Henry had to look everywhere to find resources to enlarge the facilities. He persisted in finding many Prep crew families that had businesses to donate materials and manpower to build an additional locker-room over the two boat bays at Penn AC. He got electricians, mechanical contractors and plumbers, tile guys, carpenters and roofers and Henry knew how to get all of the work donated.

He had a way that made people feel guilty if they didn’t donate. Penn AC and Jake Irwin along with Henry got the architecture and engineering passed through the very strict city historical committees and found the masons and manpower to make room for the never ending supply of rowers that my coaching staff and I kept finding. Henry was a’ never take no for an answer’ person, that kept providing the catalytic energy to climb any hurdle to accomplish the goals of the Penn AC and Prep community.

During all of this time that the Prep continued with success at Penn AC, Henry always had another goal which was to build the building in which the Prep rows from today. He may have been the only visionary who ever could conceive of the Prep having its own home on the Schuylkill.

There were numerous obstacles in getting the City approvals and most men would have given up the fight… but not Henry.

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The approval process for building along the Schuylkill included getting approvals from the city, the Art Commission, the Fairmount Park Commission, the state department of natural resources and every other governmental agency that was lobbied by the environmentalists or had paranoia about development on the waterway. Scores of meetings had to be put on the dockets and Henry Backe was one tenacious individual that knew the process and would not back down.

He also knew the right people to get involved. He got the assistance of a fellow LaSalle College alum and Georgetown Law grad and Dad Vail Chairman, Jack Galloway to act as an advocate and slightly less pugnacious buffer to the commission. He also utilized the talents of Coach Ted Nash to attest to the goodness of the project. Eventually by joining forces with SJU, he made this wonderful dream come to fruition.

We are all very fortunate and blessed to have had Henry walk among us. He was a true follower of the Ignatian creed of being “a man for others”. I know that when we pass on, he will have a heavenly boathouse there for us all to row out of.

Reflections from Bill Lamb, ‘79 Frosh and Lightweight Coach 1981 to 1991; Head Coach 1991 to 2001, 2003 to 2008 Henry Backe had an indomitable spirit and an iron will. These traits should be the model to which all Prep oarsmen aspire.

I will never forget the genesis of the boathouse project, as it was pure Henry. It was 1987 and Henry came down to Saint Andrews to watch the team and his son Kevin, compete. To kill some time prior to racing he took a ride to the Saint Andrew’s side of the lake with Bruce Konopka and me. St. Andrew’s had just completed and moved into their new boathouse and the moment he saw it, he was captivated by the simplicity and utility of the structure. Right at that moment, he resolved to build a similar structure as a boathouse for our program. He returned to his car and retrieved a tape measure and his black book and so began an often quixotic journey - the manifestation of which is the Gillen boathouse.

Henry literally willed it to happen.

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SIXTH ANNUAL

C L A SS D A Y T

he 6th Annual Class Day and Coach Lamb III boat christening took place on November 30th as over 300 faithful members of the Prep Rowing Community braved the cold temperatures to celebrate the legacy of Prep Crew.

The highlight of the morning was the christening of the William A. Lamb III ’79 new eight oared shell in honor and thanks for Bill’s coaching legacy which began in 1980 and included 15 years presiding over some of the most successful years of Prep Crew as head coach. Bill thanked his mentors, Coaches Chuck Crawford and Bruce

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Konopka, and stated simply that his goal was, “to create a culture where young men could find their confidence” to carry with them throughout their lives as men for others. The current Prep Crew culture and the overwhelming turnout of former rowers at the event is more than testament to Bill’s success. He continues, with his wife Mary Ellen, on his “second life’s work” which is raising his two daughters Liz and Kate and his son Will.

Also honored were the Prep rowers who represented the United States of America this past season. Mike Gennaro 07’, Colin

Farrell ’01, Matt O’Donoghue ’10, Chris McElroy ’84, Shane Madden ’98, and Bob Duff ’06 were inducted on the Prep Honor Board.

With so many alumni present racing for the Vince Dougherty Cup was especially heated. The Class of 2012 out-rowed strong challenges from the Class of 2011, a composite boat from Class 05’07’, and the current Class Champion 14’ to win the Cup. Rowers of all ages dating back to the Class of 1959 participated. Special thanks to the Prep Parent Association for providing a magnificent spread of heartwarming food, pastry and beverages. The Friends of St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing hosted the event.

PARTICIPANTS Raymond Antonini '71 Bunny and Henry Backe '48 Louis Backe '84 Christopher M. Barone '97 Richard Biemuller Patrick J. Broderick '64 Criag Bischoff John J. Boyle, Jr. '83 Stephen Boyle '11 Liam Brickley '76 Thomas C. Browning '75 David L. Busch Adelbert W. Campbell '59 (Dell) Andrew Coyne '84 James Cushwa '77 Timothy Davis '09 Paul DeVlieger '81 Joseph Dever '86 Margaret Dougherty Thomas Dowd '46 James Duff '08 Robert Duff '06 Shawn Duff '04 John R. Edelman, Jr.

Carl Engel '04 Leslie and Bill Flick Adam B. Funk '08 Daniel M. Gallagher '90 Jonathan Ghaul '13 Mike Gennaro '07 Matthew Glaeser '02 Andrew Greubel '15 Peter and Janet Greubel Alexander Halas '15 Jim Hankee '87 Chris Henderson '12 Joseph Horton '85 Anthony Horvat '75 Athol T. Hundermark Dr. Kevin Kelly '72 Kevin C. Kennedy '08 Bob Kerwin Harrison Kieffer '11 Joseph Kieffer '84 Daniel Kilpatrick '94 Perry LaBruno Alex LaBruno '12 Greg Lare '89

Jason and Joyce LaViscount Marie A. Leonard Louis Lombardi '11 James L. Love '86 Robert Madden '64 Shane Madden '98 Mario and Joseph Malloy Walter H. Marter '63 Stephen McDonald '93 Christopher McElroy '84 Kevin McGowan '91 John McGrorty '11 Edward J. McIntyre '59 Vincent McLaughlin, Jr. '08 Dave Mingey '88 Christopher Morris '83 Robert and Kelly Munsell Christopher Mulvey '11 Michael Murphy '99 Kevin Murray '65 Michael Novakovic Seamus O'Brien '16 Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Brien '89 Patrick Oldfield '94

Brian Perkins '88 Gregory L. Pesot '83 Max Pesot '16 John Pichola '06 Robert Protesto '04 Martin Quinn '73/'02 James J. Rodgers '68 Jon Romvary '04 Sean Ryan '87 Josh Sattel '11 Daniel J. Sheehan '73 Dan Stanek '03 Paul Stewart '57 John Strotbeck Timothy and Karen Stuart Sean Sweeney '83 Timothy Sweeney '78 Elizabeth VanderVennet Ted Villanueva '83 John Ward '84

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National Team Profile Jim Moroney, '71

As festivities and plans were being finalized in preparation for the unveiling of the National Team Honor Board, FSJPR officers and planners imagined the myriad of experiences from the scores of athletes whose names are now emblazoned on oak. Many of these names have had extraordinary scholastic, collegiate and National Team experiences, even by Prep Crew standards. This is the story of one impressive alum who was the first, and youngest Prep Crew alum, to become an Olympian. FSJPR caught up with Jim recently.

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FSJPR: Can you share with our readers how many times you made appearances on the National Team, and what were your results?

JM: I had the good fortune of being on eight US National Teams.

Two Junior teams, with Prep teammates, in 1970 and 1971, where we placed 4th in Ioannina, Greece and 6th in Bled, Yugoslavia respectively at the Worlds in the 4+.

I rowed in the Olympics in 1972 and 1976. In ’76, racing in the 4-, we were a disappointing 8th… since (I knew it was going to be my last year, even though I was only 23 years old). Prior to that in 1973, I raced in the 4- placing 7th in Moscow. In 1974, I was the spare for the 8+, which won the gold in Lucerne. In 1975, I raced in the 2- in Nottingham, UK and later that year I was in the 8+, which won the gold in the Pan American Games in Mexico City.

An interesting anecdote to this story, from a Prep crew perspective, was that Mike Vespoli was part of that crew in Mexico City and was on the medal stand with me that day. Mike was my sophomore math teacher at the Prep and the one responsible for ‘hounding’ me till I went out for the Prep crew team. After my first couple of weeks he and some upper classmen asked what I thought and I said it was pretty boring in the barge learning to row. I remember them replying quite quickly “that’s okay, you won’t cut it anyway”. Needless to say I was hooked from that day forward. The relationship that began 45 years ago went from teacher, coach, teammate, and today, still a good friend.

FSJPR: As the first Prep Crew alum to make the Olympic Team at such an early age. How would you describe the enormity of that accomplishment?

JM: The initial decision to even try for the ’72 team was also due do to Mike encouraging me to try. As a freshman at Penn that winter, there were a number of days I would first practice at Penn and then go next door to Vesper and lift weights with all the elite veteran oarsman (including Jim Glavin, the Prep’s current coach). I figured I had to do more if I was to have any chance. I was the young kid that no one really expected to be there in the end, so I didn’t feel a great deal of pressure till early summer. Once the mid summer selection process began in earnest, I felt like all eyes were on me, and that I had to perform well every day or I would be perceived to be the weak link as the “Rookie”. This was the moniker I was quickly tag with by the other national team members once making the squad. It was clearly this presWINTER 2013

sure that propelled me through that final six-week process.

After we won the Nationals by a large margin, everybody was gunning for us the last two-weeks before the trials and making boating changes searching for faster combinations to beat us. We were the favorites, which adds pressure. It was really only at that time that I realized the significance of what was about to transpire, should we win in the finals at the trials. I learned to thrive and look forward to the pressures of racing. Reflecting back, it was an exciting day winning the trials and earning a trip to Munich. I never doubted that we would not win.

FSJPR: Can you tell us of your journey during the training, selection/trials processes and experiences during the games and world championships events?

JM: Again, I was fortunate to be on numerous National Teams starting at a young age and as a result saw much of the world with a unique perspective - from cold war Russia to extreme poverty in Mexico to much of Europe’s rich and sometimes tragic history. To do it representing the US was definitely exciting. As I reflect back here today, there were endless memories and stories each year, unfortunately too numerous to list. However, there was a flip side for me. For seven years I never had a summer vacation and training was a year round effort. I missed a slice of life enjoyed by most my age. But that life was also something I couldn’t relate to and my closer friends became my teammates, who I could more closely identify with. I viewed myself as someone who had to work harder than the others, if I was to succeed.

In training I used the fall to mentally recharge after each summer on the national team and my workouts included some rowing and a fair amount of running, which I enjoyed.

The winters saw the intensity begin with a lot of weight lifting, running and rowing. Stadium stairs at Franklin Field were mixed in 2 or 3 times a week. By late spring, workouts were predominantly on the water and twice a day.

FSJPR: Can you tell us a bit about your student-athlete experiences at the Prep?

JM: For me, high school days at the Prep were a great time from the perspective of a 17 and 18 year old. The crew was respected as a serious athletic team by both students and faculty due to the hard work and dedication they saw from all involved and we had some success, to be proud of as well. All was grand. In addition, I remember a late fall day in 1968 that had me wondering what I had gotten into. It was a cold dark gray day after practice at the Crescent Boat Club with virtually no lights, no hot water and snow blow-

ing in the windows with missing panes of glass. I still have that image today. I guess it would be hard for the current Prep crew, with their beautiful boathouse, to envision this scene. I tell this as a humorous side note because we were, in reality, all proud of our Spartan conditions and it also demonstrates how far the program has progressed.

On the academic and personal responsibility side of the ledger, the Jesuits had that subtle and not so subtle way of communicating their message. Those messages still resonate today and so do the periodic Friday short stories about life through the eyes of Misters Gaffney, Kueny, and Doyle to name a few. It is funny these memories have stuck with me more than the geometry and English lessons (but not more than the Latin I must confess) When it became evident that I would be living in the Boston area, I remember lamenting a bit that if I had any sons they wouldn’t be able to attend the Prep. That concern was taken care of when I had only two daughters. That’s when I became fully cognizant that the Prep would always have a special place in my heart.

FSJPR: How did your time at the Prep prepare you for your National Team experiences and your other life's endeavors?

JM: The foundation and development of my core values today were built at the Prep. There is no question about it.

Rowing then took everything to another level of awareness for me. My father used to say; “if nothing else, I learned that success in life would only come from hard work”. He was correct. I have tried to pass that same philosophy on to my children by adding………. “Things in life that are given to you have little real value, however, things that are earned through your own hard work have lasting value.” You can’t set the bar too high, I feel. No matter where you finish if you honestly put 110% into an endeavor, you will ultimately derive an internal satisfaction. I believe rowing crystallizes that for all who have partaken in the sport. That’s not to say disappointment can’t be mixed in there. I had many in my rowing career.

persevere more than most others. The Prep and rowing were a powerful and wonderful combination for me.

FSJPR: Are there other memorable experiences you care to share?

JM: A few years back I was asked to speak to a group about my Olympic experiences. The other members of the group speaking with me were a gold, a silver, and a bronze Olympic medalists. I mentioned to the audience that I was there to relay my experiences representing the ‘agony of defeat’ as featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports (dating myself here). In any event I ended my stories by mentioning I had just read an article about an 80 year Olympic silver medalist who’s drive was so strong to achieve a gold medal that still to this day he would wake up dreaming he had finally won the gold that had eluded him. I stated that I got a slight chuckle from reading this because I too have had that same dream over the past 35 plus years. I find it amazing that something so long ago still burns so vividly in my subconscience. Especially, since my rowing these days consists of one day a year at the Head of the Charles in Boston. I suspect I will never be able to rest in peace and abandon my quest. I say that in jest. It was all worth the effort.

Another humorous story with a Prep twist was at the beginning of the national training camp selection process in 1974 I was feeling quite confident after just returning from early season racing in Europe and I told Mike Vespoli at dinner the first night that he was going to have a difficult time making the 8+ because I planned to be beating him regularly. Without looking up or missing a bite he replied, “I hope you have taken out life insurance”. Mike went on to be in the 8+ that won gold at the Worlds in Lucerne, while I was the spare for the 8+ watching from bank. Ouch! He got the last laugh.

The thing I love about sports is not everyone can reach that paramount of a goal that one sets for him or herself. For me it was to be a world champion. I didn’t quite get there but I certainly learned a lot about myself along the way and I’d like to think it made me a better person for trying.

I was clearly not the best student or the best athlete in high school or college but I was probably willing to sacrifice and 17

THE JOURNEY

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OF BRUCE KONOPKA A few weeks ago FSJPR had the opportunity to sit down with Bruce Konopka, Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Development at Episcopal Academy, to talk about his long association with rowing and coaching.

Early on

B

ruce began his rowing career at LaSalle College High school. He went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where he captained the lightweight squad his junior and senior years. Bruce was a part of the Eastern Sprints Varsity Lightweight 8+ champion crew, which competed in the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in ‘76.

After graduating from UPenn in '78, he joined the Quakers staff, as an assistant; first coaching the Freshmen Lightweights and then the Freshmen Heavyweights. In '84, when Ted Nash resigned as Varsity Heavyweight coach, Bruce stepped in as the interim head coach and helped lead the Varsity 8+ to a second place finish at both the Eastern Sprints and IRA Regattas. The following season Bruce 19

took over as the Varsity Women’s head coach, but only for a season, before leaving to focus on a career as a stockbroker.

THE PREP In ‘86, Chuck Crawford, then head coach of St. Joe’s Prep, convinced Bruce to join the staff to assist with the scullers.

When Chuck subsequently left the program the following year, Bruce took over as head coach from '87 to the spring of '91.

The program didn’t miss a step in the transition. Chuck’s logistics, training and practice routines did not have to be adjusted in Bruce’s mind, everything was efficiently run.

Back then, the program operated on eight ergs at the time, and athletes would schedule time to take their erg tests.

Body circuits and running were the staples of Bruce’s training regiment for the team and he also added more weightlifting into the program.

es. In '91, his Varsity 8+ developed into a very strong crew. The boat had an impressive season, which started in the fall - winning the Navy Day Regatta, the Head of the Schuylkill and the Head of the Charles. In the spring, they continued the winning streak, dominating the Manny Flicks and claiming the Catholic league and Philadelphia City championship titles. They took their autumn through spring unbeaten record into Stotesbury as the favorites, but fell to St. Andrews and TC Williams in the final to garner bronze.

After the loss, Bruce focused on the crew getting their nerves back in check. As two-seat Kevin McGowan '92 recalls, Bruce pulled the emotional boat together on the dock following the disappointing Stotesbury and said, “Fellas, I remember when I lost the Eastern Sprints my senior year of college. I just cried and cried because I knew I would never have another shot. You guys have another shot at this. Next week we are going to relax and win Nationals.”The following weekend the crew rebounded for an impressive come from behind win at SRAAs, besting TC Williams and St. Andrews on their home course.

After their victory at Nationals, Bruce and the Varsity crew traveled to Henley. They won preliminary races against Westminster School, Oundle School and St. Edwards School. In the semi-final race, they raced tough, but lost to eventual winner Eton College.

Following the '91 spring season at SJP, Bruce returned to UPenn to coach the Lightweight program and led the squad until 2001. In 1992, Bruce coached the USA Olympic 2-, which finished 6th in the final at Barcelona, Spain.

He also coached the USA Lightweights from 1993-1995, and the Pan American team in 1995 where they collected three gold medals.

The training paid off. In his first spring as coach in ‘88, the program won the Catholic League title, and the Varsity 8+ was victorious at the Philadelphia City Championship for the first time in many years. The V8+ placed fifth at Stotesbury behind winners Redwood HS from Canada, but came together for a remarkable win at the SRAA championship. Following the win, Bruce and the crew traveled to Henley-on-Thames, England to compete in the Princess Elizabeth Cup. They raced notably, but fell in the quarterfinals.

After leaving UPenn in 2001, Bruce accepted a position at Episcopal Academy in alumni relations and development, where he remains today. His wife Molly, is the head coach of the rowing program at Episcopal, and Bruce has helped as an assistant with the program off an on throughout the last decade.

Bruce’s program enjoyed similar success in the subsequent years, winning the Catholic league, Philadelphia City, Stotesbury Cup and SRAA titles across multiple boat class-

In 2009, Bruce once again returned to SJP as an assistant on Jim Gavin’s staff, and focused primarily with the Varsity Lightweight 8+. The Lightweight 8+ placed 2nd

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Episcopal and the Prep

at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and SRAAs in 2009 and SRAAs in 2010, but was victorious at the 2010 Stotesbury Cup Regatta.

kid about him being about to say mass in under 22 minutes, except Palm Sunday, which was 26 minutes.

A few questions for Bruce FSJPR: What was it like transitioning as an assistant on Chuck’s program to the head coach in the fall of 1987?

BK: Chuck had a great system in place at the time. The guys were used to working hard, we did things different with training, but it was a great program to take over. Bill Lamb '79 remained as an assistant on the program and was in charge of the Lightweight and Midweight boats, and they had some really quick crews. Bill was a tremendous help, he was really my co-coach, and at times, I would bounce ideas off him for lineups.

"There was a great support group at the Prep that was always behind the program."

There was a great support group at the Prep that was always behind the program. Henry Backe '48, Al Wachlin, Pat Lamb '59 and Greg Stefan Sr. really took care of us so that we could just focus on coaching. They would help with other aspects of the program too, like boathouse or launch maintenance. Henry was a guy that could just get things done, there wasn’t anything that he wasn’t able to do for us. We used to joke about him logging things in his black notebook that he would carry. If you said you were going to do something around the boathouse months from then, he would take note of it and follow up - he never forgot.

Father Taggart was ‘Prep Crew’. He loved the program, and was great with the rowers. I can still vividly remember him watching practice from Kelly Drive as he biked along the river. He was the best moderator - he didn’t interfere with any of our coaching, but would handle all the coordinating with the parents. We really enjoyed having him around all the time, and it was great having him celebrate Sunday mass for the team every race weekend. We used to

FSJPR: What was it like returning to the team as an assistant in 2009?

BK: I was honored when Jim asked me to join the staff, and I appreciated the fact that he would ask my opinion on certain things. On the other hand, if I had a question, he would go out of his way to help me out as well. It was another great environment where I could just focus on coaching. Jim and his support group really took care of the dayto-day operations of the program and I was able to hop in the launch every day and just concentrate on coaching the Lightweights.

It was also great to be in the new facility as well, and to be in the building that Henry Backe ‘48 along with many others worked hard to create. When I was coaching out of cramped Penn AC, he was in the beginning stages of plans for a boathouse, and used to bring renderings to meetings.

He knew it was going to be a long-term process to get Gillin built, but he was committed to seeing it through Although I went back to Episcopal in 2011, Jim and I have still remained close. When we had the sudden tragedy of losing one of our rowers this past season, just prior to Stotesbury, the Prep crew program really supported our Episcopal community. I knew that they were responding because they knew it was the right thing to do, they are true sportsmen….it meant a lot.

21

QA &

A few weeks ago FSJPR had the opportunity to sit down with alumni graduates from the class of '09 and have them share their stories.

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Ray Andruszko '09 University of Pennsylvania '13

Q: What was your major at Penn and what are your plans after graduation?

A: I was a Psychology major in the College of Arts in Sci-

ences with a minor in Consumer Psychology, a joint marketing program with the Wharton School of Business.

Beginning in August, I will be working as a Management Consultant at Gap International in Springfield, PA.

Q:

How did SJP prepare you athletically and academically for Penn?

teammates when we competed against them in college racing. The Prep brotherhood definitely persists way beyond the high school years.

Q: What are some of your Penn rowing highlights, race results and favorite races?

A: I rowed in the Freshman Lightweight 8+, 2nd Varsity

Lightweight 8+, and Varsity Lightweight 4+ while at Penn.

Throughout my P150 career, one of my most memorable races was this past Spring of my senior year. I rowed in the Varsity Four and we beat Georgetown to win their shirts.

This race was exceptional not only because it was the last home race of my Penn career but, also, my last home race on the Schuylkill after eight years of rowing with it as my home course. It was great to end on a high note with a big win.

A:

The Prep definitely prepared me to succeed in a rigorous academic program while playing a division-I varsity sport. The workload that was expected from my high school teachers and rowing coaches demanded a high level of personal accountability. The development of routine study habits, effective time management skills, and an understanding of the importance of teamwork allowed me to perform both in the classroom as well as in athletic competition.

Q: What was your favorite race at SJP? A: My favorite race at SJP was Stotesbury 2008. It was

amazing to be part of a team that was able to sweep all the events in this historic regatta. Additionally, my other favorite race was the 2009 Youth Nationals in Cincinnati my senior year. Although our finish did not match our expectations, the trip was a memorable experience to end both my Prep career and an exciting year in the Lightweight 8+.

Q:

Who have been major influences on your rowing career?

A: Some of my biggest influences in rowing have been my

fellow Prep rowers that have continued to row at the collegiate level. Knowing that many of these guys have been able to stick it out and continue to perform was a powerful motivation when the times got tough. I was very fortunate to have two fellow Prep '09 rowers, Mark and Sean, to work with on my team at Penn. It was great to have them along for the ride and to be able to reconnect with our other Prep 23

Garrett Barker '09 Cornell University '13

Q: What was your major at Cornell and what are your plans after graduation?

A: I majored in Urban and Regional Studies. I plan on a

career in real estate, ultimately in development or commercial investing/management.

Q: How did SJP prepare you athletically and aca-

demically for Cornell?

A: Athletically, SJP Crew taught me how to work hard. I

don't mean that lightly. Rowing was by far the most physically challenging thing I had ever done or was doing at the time. SJP Crew gave me the basic toolbox for how to push myself, which was invaluable as I began the transition into a varsity collegiate athlete. Academically, SJP taught me that good grades don't come without preparation. The two are inseparable. That lesson is never more evident than in Latin class, where endless translation is the only way to drill those declensions into you head.

Q: How did SJP prepare you athletically and aca-

demically for Cornell?

A:

Both athletically and academically, there is no handholding at the Prep. In both rowing and the classroom, you are taught early on at SJP that if you want something, it is on you to go get it. Whether it is a seat in the varsity boat or a certain GPA in the classroom, SJP surrounds you with the resources to be successful and then it is the student's responsibility to take advantage of those opportunities. Penn is no different in that regard, and I think that my experiences at the Prep allowed me to succeed at Penn.

Q: Who have been major influences on your row-

ing career?

A:

My biggest influences in rowing at the Prep and Cornell are undoubtedly the guys who came before me on each team, whether they be guys who already graduated and were now the stuff of legend or the vets on the team showWINTER 2013

ing me the ropes. I am very fortunate to have been a part of two teams with such a strong team culture and winning tradition.

Q:

What are some of your Cornell rowing highlights, race results and favorite races?

A: : I am very fortunate to have been a part of some great

crews at Cornell. I finished my career last month having earned three Eastern Sprints gold medals: one in the Freshman Lightweight 8+, one in the Third Varsity Lightweight 8+ and one in the Second Varsity Lightweight 8+. The most memorable race is a tie between the Sprints final my freshman year in the Freshman Lightweight 8+ and my senior year in the Second Varsity Lightweight 8+. Leading up to each race, our crew was undefeated except against Harvard. Each race involved an intense head-to-head with Harvard, and in either one of the races may have been lost if the race was only a few more strokes longer. These races were inexplicably fun and nerve-wracking at the same time.

Keanan Clark '09 Princeton University '13

Q: What was your major at Princeton and what are your plans after graduation?

A: I was a Politics Major and earned a certificate in Ameri-

can Studies. After graduation I will be doing a one-year coaching internship with the Princeton Heavyweight team.

As part of the internship, I will be coaching the 3V and 4V, and will be assisting the other coaches in their recruiting efforts.

Q: How did SJP prepare you athletically and aca-

demically for Princeton?

A:

The Prep definitely prepared me for the athletic and academic responsibilities that I encountered at Princeton.

The demanding schedule at the Prep, including the curriculum and athletic commitments, helped me to understand what it would take to succeed as a student-athlete in college.

Although Princeton was an enormous challenge, it gave me the opportunity to utilize many of the skills and lessons that I learned while I was at the Prep, both on the water and off.

dinner, which has provided me with an ongoing source of advice and guidance through my college career. My Princeton coaches and current bosses, Greg Hughes and Spencer Washburn, were also important influences for me along the way. I am happy I get to work with them next year and learn a little more about the sport under their leadership.

Q: What are some of your Princeton rowing highlights, race results and favorite races?

A: At Princeton, my freshman season was definitely my

favorite. We won a silver medal at the Eastern Sprints and a bronze medal at the IRA National Championships. Both of those races were dogfights until the last stroke. My most memorable race at Princeton was the 2013 IRA Varsity 8+ semifinal. Sitting down 6 seats on Stanford at the 1000 meter mark, we proceeded to walk through them and beat them by open water to secure the final spot in the grand final.

Q: What was your favorite race at SJP? A: At the Prep, the entire 2008 spring season was a highlight for me. Winning the Stotesbury Regatta in the Lightweight 8+ and medaling at Youth Nationals were both enormous accomplishments, and still two of my greatest memories in rowing. As for favorite individual race, I would have to say the 2009 grand final in the Varsity 8+ at Scholastic Nationals was pretty special. We came into that race barely ranked in the top 10 and managed to steal a silver medal.

Q:

Who have been major influences on your rowing career?

A: I have had so many influences through the years that

it is difficult for me to narrow them down. As my first head coach, Bill Lamb was a really important mentor early in my rowing career. He comes to many of Princeton's races and frequently visits campus to take the Prep guys out to 25

Mark Gannon '09 University of Pennsylvania '13

Q: What was your major at Penn and what are your plans after graduation?

A

: I majored in Urban Studies, concentrating in urban economics and finance with the initial hopes of working in a city planning and real estate capacity. Next year, I will be working for a private equity firm called Hamilton Lane, based in Philadelphia. Hopefully I will be able to join one of the clubs on boathouse row and stay active within the Philadelphia rowing community.

Q:

What was it like serving as captain of Penn this year?

A: Serving as captain at Penn was an honor and a responsibility that I am very proud to have had. I pride myself on my work ethic and tried to let that work ethic and temperament be an example in the boathouse, erg room and classroom. Overall, I am very appreciative of my teammates selecting me to that role and it is an experience that has provided valuable lessons that will apply outside of rowing going forward.

Q: What was your favorite race at SJP? A: The JV 8+ Stotesbury victory in 2008 and the 2009

Lightweight 8+ grand final in Cincinnati were two of my favorites. I think the race I am most proud of is the Varsity 8+ grand final at the 2009 SRAA in Mercer. We had a very disappointing finish at Stotes (5th place) the week prior. We were able to bounce back quickly and take the silver medal while beating some crews who had beat us at Stotesbury. It was an awesome race and I will never forget it.

Q: Who are your biggest influences in rowing?

A: My coaches at the Prep--Coach Lamb, Coach Fife and

Coach Lawn, all were immensely influential in my rowing career. More than anything, they taught me that it is not about you, the individual, but it is about the team. All of my

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coaches at the Prep were able to get a majority of the team to buy into this concept and I think that is why were able to be successful. My parents as well were huge influences in my rowing career. I would have probably never picked up an oar if it were not for my mom pleading me to try out for the team. Their support over the past eight years-whether it be traveling hundreds of miles to see my races at Penn or manning the food tent at the Prep--has been unyielding and I am very grateful for it.

Q:

What are some of your Penn rowing highlights, race results and favorite races?

A: I was in and out of the first varsity from my sopho-

more year up to my senior year. Although my collegiate career was not as successful as I had hoped, there were definitely some very fun and competitive races. Being able to race on the same home course for eight years was great.

My favorite races were definitely the 2012 and 2011 Head of the Charles races in the Lightweight Eight category.

The race atmosphere, the turns and bridges all create such a unique race and I hope to be able to row in some alumni races there in the near future.

John O’Mara '09 Columbia University '13

Q: What was your major at Columbia and what are your plans after graduation?

A

: I majored in English with a concentration in Philosophy and I’m currently looking for a job.

Q:

How did SJP prepare you athletically and academically for Columbia?

A: I spent three years under Bill Lamb and one year under

Jim Glavin at the Prep. In terms of athletic preparation, I wouldn’t say that there was a special physiological advantage that I gained at the Prep in respect to aerobic capacity or threshold output. Nor would I say there is some sort of technical prowess that was gained because there are many of styles of rowing that produce boat speed. However, there are numerous athletic advantages that were instilled in me at a formative time in my life. First and foremost is the culture of winning at the Prep, at times--and I’m thinking of the Stotesbury sweep of 2008, it might have been regarded as ostentatious, but in my mind it was the culmination and combination of several factors: an optimistic attitude, an incredible work-ethic, and an unparalleled team culture.

These are values that are necessary to be successful in any aspect of life.

Q: What was it like serving as captain of

Columbia this year?

A:

I chose Columbia because I saw an incredible opportunity to be apart of a team that becomes successful versus a team that had already demonstrated a level of success.

Call it a project. The position of captain on an elite college team is difficult to say the least. However, being the captain at the Prep my senior year during the coaching transition definitely helped to give me a sense of perspective in respect to my role and obligations to my teammates and coaches. First and foremost you are elected captain by your teammates for a reason -- for whatever qualities or attitude you had demonstrated in the past. You don’t necessarily do anything different, you make sure the atmosphere is optimistic and set the bar high. Facilitating a level of transparency and communication between the coaches and the team is also crucial in keeping the morale high during the cold, dark, early morning practices.

In terms of academic preparation, I think there is no substitute for being competitive in nature. Nothing can really prepare you for the workload in college and a lot of students vary in terms of priorities, classes, and professors. My advice: don’t take a class because it is easy material or the professor grades leniently, take classes that genuinely interest you and it makes doing the work much easier. Grades are always the focus of any student but they can detract from the purpose of taking a class. For instance, two different professors may teach the same class but grade differently, so you can see how, to a degree, grades can be arbitrary. The Prep points you in the right direction in terms of showing you the importance of being able to think critically and creatively, but the professors in college don’t guide you the way some teachers at the Prep do -- a lot of what you get out of university is derived from your own motivation.

27

Sean Travers '09

University of Pennsylvania '13 Q: What was your major at Penn and what are your plans after graduation?

A: At Penn, I majored in History with a concentration in

how, we all just dug down and absolutely crushed it after the island. We were taking a seat almost every stroke and I remember sitting in bow thinking: "Oh man, we're catching them. Oh man, now we're almost even...Now we're passing them! NOW WE'RE WINNING! I HOPE NOTHING HAPPENS IN THESE LAST 15 STROKES!" I've never felt more physically spent but emotionally gratified after a race and can still remember barely being able to stand up on the dock when Ms. Brown gave us our medals.

Diplomatic History and minored in Classical Studies. I will be working as a paralegal in Washington, DC for Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy.

Q: What are some of your Penn rowing highlights,

Q: How did SJP prepare you athletically and aca-

Varsity 8+ race against Delaware my junior year in 2012.

It was our first race of the season before the cup racing began and Delaware had beaten us pretty badly in the previous year. I also had the misfortune of not having won a shirt up until that point and I was determined that would change against Delaware. We jumped out ahead of Delaware from the very start and were up by a length coming into the wire. I remember looking up at the wire as we passed under and realizing that I was going to win my first betting shirt. Suddenly, I felt a jolt and my seat comes completely off the tracks and lands under my foot stretchers.

The three second period in which this happened felt like an eternity and I could almost see my hopes of winning a shirt burn in front of me. I remember thinking "If we lose this race because of me, I may jump out of the boat and never return." Luckily, a soft rain had come down during our warm up and so the inside of the boat was damp. I was able to slide my butt up and down the tracks as they were slippery from the rain. We held off a late charge from Delaware and won the race. Afterwards, the entirety of stern 4 and the cox hadn't noticed a thing, which I guess is good, but bow 3 all had similar heart attacks as I did.

demically for Penn?

A: One aspect that stands out for me in regards to college

preparation is the Prep instilled in me a desire to go beyond classroom learning. At SJP, it wasn't just a matter of memorizing textbook material and regurgitating it back onto a test, but rather learning for the sake of knowledge and personal enrichment: argue the opposing viewpoint, attend a political rally, read a lesser known book by the same author, etc. Athletically, rowing for the Prep demonstrated to me that successful people never settle for the status quo.

The Prep's rowing team always held itself to higher standard than any other team at the school or any other rowing team in the country. The coaches always expected more, for good reason. Although, my rowing career both at the Prep and at Penn wasn't as successful as I may have hoped, I think that the value of dedication and effort can never be underestimated.

Q: What was your favorite race at SJP? A: My favorite race at SJP has to be the 2nd Varsity 8+ fi-

nal at the 2009 Philadelphia City Championships. Our 8+ consisted of 6 lightweight-range rowers who had come together and won Catholics the week before. However, Holy Spirit's 2nd Varsity 8+ probably outweighed us about 20 lbs per seat and had beaten us pretty badly in the last 2 Flicks.

We knew coming into that weekend that we would need a perfect race in order to have any chance of catching HS, let alone beat them. We were probably bow to stern with HS for the first 1250 meters of the race until our sprint. SomeWINTER 2013

race results and favorite races?

A: My most memorable race at Penn is definitely the 2nd

Hank Savage '09 Dartmouth College '13

Q: What was your major at Dartmouth and what are your plans after graduation?

A

: I majored in History Modified with Economics. After graduation I will be working as a business analyst at Independence Blue Cross

Q: How did SJP prepare you athletically and aca-

demically for Dartmouth?

A:

SJP prepared me very well both academically and athletically for Dartmouth. The transition to college was smooth and I am grateful to have been given such a solid base from my time at the Prep. The Prep taught me to work hard, but enjoy what I am doing and I have tried to apply that to every aspect of my life here at Dartmouth.

Q: What was your favorite race at SJP? A: My favorite race at SJP was the Stotesbury Cup Regat-

ta my junior year when I was bow seat of the JV 8+ where we won and contributed to the Prep sweep.

Q:

Who have been major influences on your rowing career?

A: My biggest influences in rowing have been Bill Lamb and Dan Roock.

Q:

What are some of your Dartmouth rowing highlights, race results and favorite races?

A: My favorite rowing memory at Dartmouth was last

year in the 2nd Varsity Lightweight 8+ when we beat Harvard's 2V by open water on the Charles.

29

Personalized Brick At Robert Gillin Boathouse As part of the fund raising program to purchase new racing shells, Friends of St. Joseph’s Prep (FSJPR) is providing the opportunity for alumni, current rowers, family and friends of Prep crew to be memorialized at the Robert Gillin Boathouse with a personalize brick. We have identified a small area of land adjacent to the Prep side boat slip that can accommodate a couple of hundred bricks. This is a limited opportunity to forever recognize a Prep rower, coach, regatta victory or loved one.

Each personal brick has up to 3 lines of text with 18 characters on each line. Brick are being offered for a donation of $350 / brick. Donations are tax deductible. If there are any questions, please contact Joe Kieffer ‘84, FSJPR President, at FSJPR1926@ gmail.com or 267-228-1341.

Name: _____________________________________________ Email / Phone: ___________________/___________________ Inscription: _____________________________ (18 characters / line)

_____________________________

_____________________________ Makes Check Payable to: St. Joseph’s Prep - memo: FSJPR Brick mail form and check to 1733 West Girard Ave Philadelphia PA 19130 WINTER 2013

THANK YOU FSJPR would like to thank the following alumni and friends of St. Joseph's Prep rowing in their loyalty and support of FSJPR through the payment of annual dues Raymond Antonini '71 Bunny and Henry Backe '48 Louis Backe '77 Christopher M. Barone '97 Richard Biemuller Criag Bischoff John J. Boyle, Jr. '83 Stephen Boyle '11 Liam Brickley '76 Thomas C. Browning '75 David L. Busch Albert W. Campbell '59 (Dell) Andrew Coyne '84 James Cushwa '77 Timothy Davis '09 Paul DeVlieger '81 Joseph Dever '86 Maraget Dougherty Thomas Dowd '46 James Duff '08 Robert Duff '06 Shawn Duff '04 John R. Edelman, Jr. Carl Engel '04

Leslie and Bill Flick Adam B. Funk '08 Daniel M. Gallagher '90 Jonathan Gaul '13 Mike Gennaro '07 Matthew Glaeser '02 Andrew Greubel '15 Peter and Janet Greubel Alexander Halas '15 Jim Hankee '87 Chris Henderson '12 Joseph Horton '85 Anthony Horvat '75 Athol T. Hundermark Dr. Kevin Kelly '72 Kevin C. Kennedy '08 Bob Kerwin Harrison Kieffer '11 Joseph Kieffer '84 Daniel Kilpatrick '94 Perry LaBruno Alex LaBruno '12 Greg Lare '89

Jason and Joyce LaViscount Marie A. Leonard Loius Lombardi '11 James L. Love '86 Robert Madden '64 Shane Madden '98 Mario and Joseph Malloy Walter H. Marter '63 Stephen McDonald '93 Christopher McElroy '84 Kevin McGowan '91 John McGrorty '11 Edward J. McIntyre '59 Vincent McLaughlin, Jr. '08 Dave Mingey '88 Christopher Morris '83 Robert and Kelly Munsell Christopher Mulvey '11 Michael Murphy '99 Kevin Murray '65

PPatrick Oldfield '94 Brian Perkins '88 Max Pesot '83 John Pichola '06 Robert Protesto '04 Martin Quinn '73/'02 James J. Rodgers '68 Jon Romvary '04 Sean Ryan '87 Josh Sattel '11 Daniel J. Sheehan '73 Dan Stanek '03 Paul Stewart '57 John Strotbeck Timothy and Karen Stuart Sean Sweeney '83 Timothy Sweeney '78 Elizabeth VanderVennet Ted Villanueva '83 John Ward '84 Richard A. Wegryn '14 Richard E. Wegryn, Jr. '82 David West, Jr. '12 Timothy West as of Sept 15, 2013

Become A Member

Friends of St. Joseph's Prep

Rowing

Membership Dues * Before 2004 & Friends Classes 2004 – 2007 Classes 2008 - 2012

$25 $15 Free

* Please use for dues and member info only

Personal Information (Please print clearly) Name

Class Year/Last Crew Year

Friends of St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing St. Joseph’s Preparatory School 1733 W. Girard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19130

Address City State Home Phone Email

Please send payment in the envelope provided to:

Zip Code Mobile Phone

OR Pay online at: http://my.sjprep.org/s/80/index. aspx?sid=80&pgid=1004&gid= 1&cid=3473&ecid=3473&post _id=0

31

Where Did You Row In College?

OVER 40 SCHOOLS The FSJPR is highlighting the success of Prep rowers that have gone on to have successful rowing careers at the collegiate level. We have assembled a preliminary list of colleges and universities that Prep alumni have competed. FSJPR will use a portion of your membership dues to buy these college pennants and proudly display them at the Prep's work out facilities. This impressive display will be a source of motivation and inspiration for current Prep oarsmen. If you do not see your university where you competed for four years, please send an email to FSJPR1926@gmail.com. We will gladly grow the list.

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Boston College

Princeton University

Boston University

Rutgers University

Brown University

St. Joseph's University

Bucknell University

Stanford University

College of the Holy Cross

Syracuse University

Columbia University

Temple University

Cornell University

Trinity University

Dartmouth College

University of Pennsylvania

Drexel University

University California - Berkley

Fairfield University

University of Delaware

Fordham University

University of Pittsburgh

George Washington University

University of San Diego

Georgetown University

University of Virginia

Harvard University

University of Washington

LaSalle University

University of Wisconsin

Lehigh University

US Coast Guard Academy

Marietta College

US Naval Academy

Marist University

Villanova University

Mass Institute of Technology

Washington College

Mercyhurst University

Williams College

Northeastern University

Yale University

33

WINTER 2013

2013 FISA Championship Chungju, South Korea Senior 4- (3rd)

M. Gennaro '07

LTWT 4- (5th)

R. Duff '06

LTWT 4x (7th) Coach

S. Madden '98 C. McElroy '84

2013 Under 23 Championship Linz-Ottensheim, Austria LTWT 4- (6th) Coach

M. O'Donoghue '10 C. Farrell '01

2013 Junior Championship Trakai, Lithuania Junior 8+ (7th)

J. Ghaul '13

35

LET'S GET INVOLVED. Event Planner – FSJPR has several events

Database Administration – One of the big-

Class Captain – FSJPR is looking for class cap-

The Crimson Blade Editors / Writers

Membership Chair – FSJPR annual spring

Assistant Treasurer – Assist in the adminis-

Alumni Racing Coordinator – Identify,

FSJPR Governance – Need a few executive board members to set direction, vision and prioritized initiatives for FSJPR. Need hands and active leadership in the above efforts.

throughout the year and we need someone with strong organization and party planning skills. This includes annual alumni class day event, Summer Social and Regatta events.

tains for their respective class years and maintain alumni information, coordinate reunions, fund raising etc.

membership drive and bookkeeping of receipts. Creativity and persistent personality is needed.

field and entry various alumni race events – in regattas such as Head of the Schuylkill, Head of the Charles, Masters Henley (Canada and UK), Catholic League, etc. Organize practice, uniforms, entrance fees, etc.

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gest challenges that FSJPR has is maintaining current contact information of its 2,000 alumni. We need someone with strong social media, IT skills and techniques to improve alumni contact information integrity.

– We need beat reporters to write about the team, our coaches and alumni and FSJPR happenings. The Crimson Blade is published a few times a year.

trative financial function of FSJPR . Work directly with the Prep finance office.

FSJPR Career Connections – We are look-

Prep Crew Historian – Finds, gathers, cata-

Prep Alumni Rowing Gear Coordinator – Coordinate bi-annual FSJPR

Senior Gifts – As a thank you for four years of

ing for someone to create and lead the effort to connect graduating seniors and students looking for full time and summer internships. FSJPR volunteer will work with coaching staff on gathering resumes and identifying alumni with firms that have positions. Explore option of broadening to all alumni in the career transition.

Rowing gear offering to alumni and parents. Select vendor, items and promote through the web, social media etc

Communications / Social Media – We

need additional resources on the social media team to coordinate race broadcasts, website, Face book, Linked-in, Twitter, blog etc. IT skills and social media geeks are a plus.

Fund Raising – Need committed individual to

help organize alumni fundraising targeted campaign.

This is includes the brick campaign. Organizational skills, persistence, and the ability to ask for money are needed.

logs, documents and preserves artifacts of Prep rowing for public display or achieves. Oversee the writing of a book on the history of Prep rowing – founded in 1926

rowing and a welcome to FSJPR, we organize a gift / recognition to the graduating seniors each year. Gifts are presented at awards banquet in May.

Boathouse Projects – We need more organized and lead boathouse beatification projects. This might include hanging pictures, plaques, banners, etc.

Past projects include the honor board. Projects typically require creativity, draftsmanship and possibly work working skills.

Questions or if Interested?

Please Contact: Joe Kieffer, FSJPR President, jkieffer@email.com 267-228 -1341

37

Get Connected Through Social Media With Prep Rowing Alumni

Search on: “Friends of St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing” to join group

St. Joseph’s Prep Crew Over 440 visitors to our Facebook Pages!

www.facebook.com/StJoesPrepCrew

http://www.facebook.com/StJoesPrepCrew