Conshohocken Rowing Center, LLC

Photo(l-r); Aubrey Lewis, Graciela Preetam, Piper Konz, Molly Murphy, Beatrix Lay, Egypt Strickland

Hi! We, the Conshohocken Rowing Center's High-Performance Junior inaugural women's team comprised of six rowers: Aubrey Lewis (Conestoga High School ‘25, Boston University ‘29), Beatrix Lay (The Grayson School ‘25, Harvard University ‘29), Egypt Strickland (Upper Merion High School ‘27), Graciela Preetam (Germantown Friends School ‘26), Molly Murphy (Harriton High School ‘26), and Piper Konz (Abington Friends School ‘26), have been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race at the Women's Henley Regatta.

Why?

The U17 quad (Graciela Preetam, Egypt Strickland, Molly Murphy, Piper Konz) medaled at all of their races this fall, the highlight of their medals was winning at Head of the Charles in the U17 4x+. Many of their results were competitive with, or faster than, varsity times. The U19 women (Aubrey Lewis and Beatrix Lay) medaled at nearly every regatta. We want to bring this intensity to England! Our results from regional regattas this season place us among the top sculling programs in the Mid-Atlantic region. In just one season, we have shown tremendous growth in our speed and technique. Going to such an acclaimed regatta would be our chance to put the junior program on the map internationally and would attract significant attention for future seasons.

The cost of equipment rentals, travel, housing, food, entry fees, and blazers is~$40,000. We are looking to raise money to alleviate some of our club's financial burden. Please consider donating to help us achieve our goal. The Conshohocken Rowing Center is a non-profit entity, and all donations are tax-deductible.

We would like to thank all the people who have not only believed in us but also put their trust in the CRC High-Performance Junior program. Starting with our coaches Aaron Preetam, Bill McNabb, and Dylan Green, thank you for not only helping us all improve as athletes but also as people. Executive Director Craig Hoffman for believing in our speed. To the CRC stakeholders for our top-of-the-line equipment and boathouse, and lastly to our teammates, families, and friends for being our biggest supporters. Without any of these people, we would not have been given this opportunity.

We will keep those who support updated on this page as well as the team's Instagram (@crcjuniors_ )!

Rowers Bio's

Aubrey Lewis (17) has been rowing for 2 and 1/2 years now. She has competed in primarily sweeping events, taking 6th in the U174+ at HOCR 23’, 2nd at Mid Atlantics 24’ in the U19 W2V8+, and placed 9th overall at Youth nationals 24’ in the W2V 8+. Aubrey has also competed in sculling events, placing 2nd at HOSR in the U174x+ 22’ and 3rd in the same event the following year. She has been in stroke seat for the majority of her rowing career and loves it. She is always ready to jump in and help out wherever she can, which led her to compete at HOCR 24’ in a women’s collegiate eight event before she even graduated high school! Aubrey decided to transfer to CRC wanting a more competitive surrounding and goals, she saw promise in the program and decided it was a good fit to help her continue to improve, on and off the water. The team and coaches she has found at CRC have made an enormous positive impact on her life and she is very grateful for everything they have done for her and she knows they will continue to support her as she does for them. Aubrey is continuously motivated by her older sister, who initially introduced her to rowing, and her teammates.

Beatrix Lay (17) is an accomplished rower coming from multiple years just down the river at Whitemarsh Boat Club. Her first successes there were in the U174+, where she won Mid-Atlantics (2022) before a 6th place finish at Youth Nationals (also 2022). Later that year, her 4+ won Canadian Henley after a sweep of all local races, and in fall they won the Head of the Charles. Since the spring of 2023, she has been racing in Whitemarsh’s varsity 8+. During her two years in the boat, she has come first (2023) and second (2024) at Mid-Atlantics, and placed among the top 14 at Nationals both years. During the summer, she continued to race for Whitemarsh and led their U19 4+ to a win at Canadian Henley, with the U19 8+ (that she also raced in) finishing second. Most recently, she is returning from a summer at U19 Selection Camp in Chula Vista. While due to health reasons she did not race, she is anticipating to return next year. This fall Bea raced primarily in the U19 1x, putting in the fastest times for juniors of the day at King’s Head, Navy Day, and the Gold Cup. She also won in CRC’s U19 4x at Frostbite at the end of the fall season. Bea loves the technical and competitive challenges of rowing and is described by her peers as focused, committed, and thorough. Her love of rowing extends beyond competing, as she has coached the Learn-to-Rows at her club for two summers. She will continue rowing in college at Harvard University as a part of their class of 2029. Bea is so excited at the opportunity to race internationally at Henley before college to take her racing experience to the next level.

Egypt Strickland (15) is continuing her 2nd year of rowing. While rowing in her novice year with Upper Merion HS/Pegasus, she placed first at all Manny Flicks (2024) in the single event, won City Championships, placed 3rd at the Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships, and finished 19th overall in the U17 W1x at Youth Nationals (2024), Egypt transferred to CRC in hopes to continue her streak of success. This past summer with CRC, she placed 3rd at the Independence Day Regatta and 1st at Philadelphia Youth in the U17 W2x (bow), leading up to her race at the Canadian Henley. While serving as 3 seat in the U17 4x/4x+ this past fall, she’s successfully taken gold at Head of the Schukyill, King’s Head Regatta, and Head of the Charles (1st U17 4x+, 15th overall). Egypt took home double gold at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta in the varsity 2x (bow) and the varsity 4x (2 seat). In the single this fall, she placed 2nd at King’s Head Regatta, 4th at Head of the Schukyill, and 2nd at The Gold Cup (Hoffman Challenge). She would like to thank her parents, Tony and Neferteri Strickland, for their unwavering support, guidance, and love throughout the years. She would also like to thank her novice coaches, Franck and Caroline Kiser, for helping her fall in love with the sport of rowing. Last but certainly not least, she’d like to thank coaches Aaron Preetam, Dylan Green, and Bill McNabb for her success as a rower.

Graciela Preetam (16) is continuing a very successful year by participating in the CRC summer program, where she placed 3rd in the U17 W2x in stroke at Independence Day Regatta and 1st in her heat at Philly Youth Regatta, leading her double to race at the Canadian Henley. As a U17, she competed in the stroke seat for most of her races placing 3rd at Mid Atlantics in her youth straight four which then led her to be very successful at youth nationals placing 16th in the country, in the year prior (2023) she placed 10th in the U16 8+. This past fall Graciela raced in stroke of the U17 4x/4x+, racing at Kings Head Regatta, Head of the Charles, 1st U174x+, 15th overall, and Head of the Schuylkill. Graciela finished her fall racing at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta in stroke of the varsity 2x where she placed first in her flight and overall. Graciela has also been put on the long list for the Dominican Republic Junior National Team for Junior Pan Am qualifiers this spring in Paraguay! She would like to thank her parents, Aaron Preetam and Carole Loeffler, for their constant support and encouragement throughout her rowing career, her teammates for keeping her afloat, and her coaches for their time and dedication.

Molly Murphy (16) is a dedicated rower who puts effort into rowing on and off the water and started her rowing career in the summer before her freshman year in 2022. At youth nationals in 2023 and 2024, she placed top ten in the U16 8+ and the U17 8+ following a spring with medals in every regatta. Keeping this streak going, this fall saw her most successful season of regattas placing at every one as 2 seat in the U17 4x. Most notably she won gold at Head of the Charles and Head of the Schuylkill. Molly initially joined CRC in hopes of a competitive junior year of rowing, but the community she found at CRC is one she is most thankful for. Her teammates have cheered her on every step of the way and her coaches have helped her reach further than her own expectations.

Piper Konz (16) started rowing competitively in the summer of 2022. Over the course of two years, she has shown tremendous growth as an athlete, particularly in sweep rowing. In the fall of 2023, she raced bow seat in a U17 4+, which placed 6th at HOCR. This spring she medaled in every race before placing 9th in the U17 8+ at Nationals, managing to beat her 10th place U16 8+ finish in 2023. She joined CRC this fall looking for challenging and intentional coaching. The U17 4x, which she bowed, medaled in every regatta including gold at HOCR. She also placed first at King’s Head Regatta in the U17 1x, her first ever head race in a single. This season showcased her dedication to the sport, not only through medals, but through her improved sculling technique and successes as a bow. Her parents are her biggest supporters, and she is forever grateful for the time they have put into helping her succeed.

Articles

Kings Head Regatta 2024

Head of the Charles 2024

Head of the Schuylkill Regatta 2024

Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta 2024

We have just qualified to represent the United States at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from July 19 to 23, 2023.

We are scheduled to leave on July 13th for Bulgaria. For U23 trials in Florida and the U23 World Championships in Bulgaria between equipment, travel, hotels, food, and entry fees, the cost is $25,000. We are looking to fundraise as much as possible to help offset the cost of the trip and we need your help!

Please consider donating to the Conshohocken Rowing Center to support us on our trip to Bulgaria to represent the USA at the U23 World Rowing Championships.

*Thank you for your support! If you donate, please use Paypal since we have received reports of the credit card payments not processing with GoFundMe.

**All donations are tax-deductible since they are to the Conshohocken Rowing Center and will be used for the lightweight men's 4x for the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships.

Rower Bios:

Simon Dubiel is a rower from Seattle, Washington. Simon’s rowing career started in 2014 at Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center and is now at the University of Pennsylvania on the lightweight team. He spent the last two years in the Varsity 8 helping them earn a 3rd place finish at the IRA national championship in 7 seat. Simon placed 11th with Eli in the LM2x in 2021 and 4th in 2022 with Eli and Troy in the LM4x at the U23 World Championships and is now seeking to return to the World Championships this year in Bulgaria to win gold.

Eli Rabinowitz began rowing at 13 for RowAmerica Rye. While rowing for RowAmerica Rye, Eli served as the Men’s team captain his senior year, winning the 2018 Head of the Charles and the 2019 Youth National Championship in the Men’s 8+ for the first time in program history. Following high school, Eli began rowing for Georgetown’s Men’s Lightweight Rowing Team, winning bronze medals in the VL8+ at both Eastern Sprints and the IRA Championship regatta in 2022. In addition to his collegiate results, Eli placed 11th at the 2021 U23 World Championships racing with Simon in the LM2x, and 4th in 2022 at the U23 World Rowing Championships with Simon and Troy in the LM4x. This year Eli is looking to improve upon the work done last year and win the World Championships in Bulgaria for the USA.

Ruben Luthra is a rower from Seattle, Washington. Ruben started rowing in 2015 for Lakeside School and learned to scull at Seattle Rowing Center. He went on to win the Youth National Championship in the men’s lightweight double in 2018 & 2019 with two different partners. This past collegiate season he was the stroke seat of the Georgetown Men’s Varsity lightweight 8+. Ruben came second in a tight race at trials for this event last summer and is excited to join forces with Simon, Eli, and Troy this year in hopes of winning the World Championships for the United States.

Troy Riesenberger started rowing in 8th Grade in Sarasota, Florida. 7 years later he has gained many experiences throughout his athletics including being on the national team twice previously. This will be his second time in Bulgaria, having raced for the US’s Junior team there in 2021. The following year he raced with CRC in the lightweight quad in Italy. Domestically he is a member of the Penn Lightweight team.

Conshohocken Rowing Center:

We would like to thank The Conshohocken Rowing Center for providing us with equipment, funding, and a supportive community for our training. Craig Hoffman, Lyons Bradley, Aaron Preetam, James Konopka, and all of CRC’s coaches for through the winter, spring, and this summer leading up to the world championships.

Thank You:

Although in addition to the Conshohocken Rowing Center and coaches, we have hundreds of people to thank for helping us get to this point, we would like to mention a few key groups and individuals.

We would like to thank our university coaches. From the University of Pennsylvania Lightweight Rowing team, we would like to thank Colin Farrell for coaching Simon and Troy. From the Georgetown University Lightweight Rowing team, we would like to thank Matt Madigan and Justin DeGaetano for coaching Eli and Ruben.

In addition to our university coaches, we all want to thank our other rowing programs and coaches that enabled us to get to where we are today. Simon would like to thank all of Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center coaches for their support throughout high school. RowAmerica Rye’s men’s coaches for coaching Eli throughout high school. Sarasota Crew for coaching Troy during his high school career. Ruben would like to thank his former coach Derek de Leuw for teaching him how to scull and supporting him throughout his high school rowing career.

Support the LW4x as we prepare for World Championships

 

Hi! We are the USA Under-23 Women’s Lightweight Quad: Savanna, Kathleen, Ava, and Claire. We qualified to compete at the U23 World Rowing Championship Regatta, held this year in Varese, Italy from July 25 - 31, 2022.

 

While this is an incredibly exciting opportunity to represent the United States, the LW4x is a self-funded event in the US, so we need your help. We are fundraising to help cover the cost of travel, housing, transportation, entry fees, equipment and meals. The Conshohocken Rowing Center is a non-profit entity and all funds donated are tax-deductible. Any support will be highly appreciated as we pursue a World Championship Title in Varese!

 

How We Got Here

 

Though the list is truly endless, we would like to thank some of the many people who helped each of us in our efforts to get to the international racing stage.

 

Our Conshohocken coaches: Craig Hoffman, Lyons Bradley, Aaron Preetam, James Konopka, and Fergal Barry.

 

Our university coaches: Malcolm Doldron and Libby Hughes, Claire Martin-Doyle and Amelia Patton, Hadzo “Hodge” Habibovic and Vicky Opitz.

 

Our family, friends, and teammates who have supported us and cheered us on from both near and far.

 

Personal Bios

 

Claire Friedlander

 

Claire began rowing for Sacred Heart Academy in 2016. She was awarded MVP and captain her sophomore and senior year. Claire was born and raised in Narberth, Pennsylvania. In hopes of becoming more active in her community she began her career as a volunteer firefighter for Gladwyne Fire Company in 2018. Practices on the Schuylkill were often met right after with evening class to complete her Firefighter 1 training. While not rowing for her high school she rowed for various teams such as UBC, CRC, and Vesper. In 2019 she placed first in the lightweight 8 at the Canadian Henley for Vesper and went on to make varsity as a freshman in college that fall. Currently, Claire is a rising senior at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she is studying psychology and rowing for Wisconsin’s lightweight rowing program. This past season she competed in the varsity 8+ for the majority of the season and placed second in both the Lightweight Varsity 8+ and JV 4+ at The Dadvail Regatta. Claire would like to thank her parents, Mark and Laurie Friedlander, for their unlimited support and love for her passions and adventures. She would also like to thank her high school and club coaches who undoubtedly deserve the credit for the growth she has made as an individual and teammate. Special thanks to Liz Euiler for being the first person to believe in Claire and help her fall in love with the sport of rowing.

 

Instagram: @claire.fried23

 

Ava Gamble

 

Ava began her rowing career at Blair Academy in 2018. During her time at Blair, she was a member of the first varsity women’s boats in program history to qualify for both Scholastic Nationals and Youth Nationals, served as a team captain, and was awarded the Kemp Crew prize her senior year. She was raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and spent her summers in high school training on the Schuykill River. She attended the USRowing Olympic Development Camp in Philadelphia the summer of 2019, and sculled for the Conshohocken Rowing Center the summers of 2020 and 2021. She currently attends the Boston University Kilachand Honors College in pursuit of a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Relations and rows for the lightweight women’s rowing team. She raced in the Lightweight Varsity 8+ for the entirety of the spring 2022 racing season, concluding her freshman year with a 4th place finish at the IRA National Championships. Ava would like to thank her parents, Peter and Tamara Gamble, for their unconditional generosity and support and for the opportunity to learn and row at preeminent institutions. She credits the guidance and mentorship of her highschool coaches, John Redos and Rebecca Marcus, for her success as a lightweight rower and her growth as a person.

 

Instagram: @ava.gamble

 

Kathleen Love

 

Kathleen is from Arlington, Virginia, where she started rowing as a freshman at Yorktown High School and trained during the summers with TBC Racing, receiving gold medals at both USRowing Club Nationals and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Kathleen is currently a rising senior at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she is studying Biological Engineering and rowing for the lightweight women’s crew team. Notably, Kathleen raced at CRASH-B sprints in 2020, placing second in the U23 Lwt Women’s 2k. This past season, she set the program 2k record on the erg and rowed in the LW4+ which won Head of the Charles (Fall 2021), Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta (Spring 2022), and IRA National Championship (Spring 2022), MIT Crew’s first national championship title. She will be returning next year as team captain. Kathleen would like to thank her high school coaches, Ken Shuster and Elliott Lane, who taught her many technical and mental skills that she still applies to her training today, as well as her parents, Greg Love and Mary Cormier, for their unwavering love, support, and guidance.

 

Instagram: @kathleeen.love

 

Savanna Jacovini

 

Savanna began rowing in 2018 for the Conestoga Crew Club where she served as varsity captain her senior year and was awarded Women’s Athlete of the Year. A resident of Wayne, PA, she spent her summers training with a variety of teams in the Philadelphia area: Fairmount Rowing Association, Bachelors Barge Club, and Pegasus Rowing. Currently, Savanna attends Boston University’s College of Engineering in pursuit of a BS in the biomedical sector and rows for their lightweight women’s crew. During her first year at BU, she placed 2nd in the LV4+ that raced at Head of the Charles (2021) and competed in the team’s Lightweight Women’s 8+ for the duration of spring, placing 4th at the IRA National Championships. Savanna cannot thank her parents, Will and Carrie Jacovini, enough for their endless love, support, and confidence as well as her high school coaches, Goldia Kiteck and Garren Best, for teaching her both how to row and how to be a better teammate and person.

 

Instagram: @savannajacovini

We have just qualified to represent the United States at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy from July 26 to 30, 2022.

 

We are scheduled to leave on July 19th for Italy. For U23 trials in Florida and the U23 World Championships in Italy between equipment, travel, hotels, food, entry fees, and mandatory covid testing, the cost is $33,500. We are looking to fundraise as much as possible to help offset the cost of the trip and we need your help!

 

Please consider donating to the Conshohocken Rowing Center to support us on our trip to Italy to represent the USA at the U23 World Rowing Championships. All donations are tax-deductible. We will add periodic updates for all our supporters to keep up to date with our progress between now and July 30.

 

Rower Bios:

 

Simon is a rower from Seattle, Washington. Simon’s rowing career started in 2014 at Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center and he is now a University of Pennsylvania Lightweight rower and spent the year in the Varsity 8. Simon placed 11th at the U23 World Championships with Eli and seeking to return to the World Championships this year in Italy and put down a top performance.

 

Eli is a rower from Rye, New York. Eli’s rowing career started at RowAmerica Rye in 2013 and he is now a Georgetown Lightweight Rower. Recently elected to co-captain the Georgetown Lights for the 2022-2023 season Eli sat 7 of the Georgetown Lightweight Varsity this year, taking home a program record Bronze medal at both Eastern Sprints and IRAs. Having rowed at the 2021 U23 World Championships with Simon in the LW 2x Eli is seeking to take the experiences he had last year and capitalize on them to improve the crew’s performance this summer in Italy.

 

Justin is a rower from Westport, Connecticut. Justin started rowing in 2014 at Saugatuck Rowing Club. Justin is now president of the University of Delaware’s men’s rowing program. Justin placed 1st in the U23 lightweight single last summer at the USRowing Summer National Championship.

 

Troy is a rower for Sarasota Florida where he rowed for Sarasota Crew from 2017-2021. He rowed in the varsity 8 for multiple years and served as the Varsity boys captain his senior year. His high school rowing career culminated with a 9th place finish in the Junior Men's 4- at the Junior World Championship in Bulgaria last summer. Now he is a lightweight rower at the University of Pennsylvania and has been a solid member of the Varsity 8 and stroked at the IRA championship.

 

 

Conshohocken Rowing Center:

We would like to thank The Conshohocken Rowing Center for providing us with equipment, funding, and a supportive community for our training. Craig Hoffman, Lyons Bradley, and all of CRC’s coaches for giving up countless hours of their time to coach and support us through the winter and spring. 

 

Thank You:

Although in addition to the Conshohocken Rowing Center and coaches we both have hundreds of people to thank for helping us get to this point, we would like to mention a few key groups and individuals.

 

We would like to thank our university coaches. From the University of Pennsylvania Lightweight Rowing team, we would like to thank Colin Farrell and Tyler Nase for coaching Simon and Troy. From the Georgetown University Lightweight Rowing team, we would like to thank Lee Rumpf, Matt Madigan, Joe Federici, Justin DeGatano, and Artym Hayda for coaching Eli during the 2021-2022 season. From the University of Delaware Lightweight Rowing team, we would like to thank Chuck Crawford, Tristan Snow, and John Williams for coaching Justin since 2019.

 

In addition to our university coaches, we all want to thank our other rowing programs and coaches that enabled us to get to where we are today. Simon would like to thank all Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center’s coaches for their support from 2014 to 2019. RowAmerica Rye’s men’s coaches for coaching Eli from 2013 to 2019. Sarasota Crew for coaching Troy during his high school career. Justin would like to thank the coaches from Saugatuck Rowing Club for supporting him throughout his high school rowing career.