Photo by SportGraphics
An inspirational letter from an injured teammate helped spark Saint Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia to a victory in the Boys Senior Eight at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta.
The regatta, held on the Schuylkill River May 14 and 15, bills itself as the oldest and largest regatta in the world, with 180 high schools and 5,000 athletes.
One of the athletes who wasn’t counted was senior Ted Beck, who sat out this season with an injured back. Beck, who will row at Boston University next year, took pen in hand to inspire his St. Joe’s Prep, talking about the “sacrifice of rowing,” said Coach Jim Glavin.
“He talked about how other sports may have more contact, but in rowing you're punishing yourself,” said Glavin, adding that the crew’s strategy was to surge in the middle of the race. It won by more than a boat length.
The St. Joe’s Prep eight, which won the Edward T. Stotesbury Cup, was made up of Brendan Adams, Brendan Courtney, Dean Hill, Colin Kane, Carter Law, Stephen Lezynski, Louis Lombardi, Patrick McGlone and John McGrorty.
Medals were presented to the winning boats by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, a 1975 graduate of St. Joe’s Prep.
“It’s a great feeling,” Mayor Nutter said of awarding the medals to kids from “The Prep.” “It gives me an extra sense of pride.”
In the Girls Senior Eight, another local team, Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pa., took the top girls’ prize, the Robert Engman Trophy.
Coach Megan Kennedy said she saw the determination in the girls all weekend.“I saw it in everything. They showed a lot of determination and drive, a lot of maturity,” said Kennedy. The boat was made up of Victoria Babson, Meredith Bracken, Darian DiCianno, Mary Duff, Katy Gregor, Sarah Jordan, Dana Lerro, Laura Pospisil and Chierika Ukogu.
Conditions for much of Saturday’s finals were windy, but the wind died and the course flattened out for the senior eight
By Peter Van Allen
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