Montclair HS Rowing Alum Victorious In Prestigious Competition

MONTCLAIR, NJ — One of the oldest and most well-known rowing competitions in the world now has a connection to Montclair: Kenneth Coplan.

Recently, the Montclair High School rowing alumnus, a member of the class of 2018, was selected to row with Cambridge University in The Boat Race in London. The annual competition pits crews from two of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities and rowing institutions against each other: the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

The race takes place on the famous Championship Course in London, which stretches more than four miles of the Thames River and is regularly attended by over 250,000 spectators and broadcast to millions worldwide.

Coplan has earned his stripes as a well-decorated oarsman and scholastic athlete. As a member of the championship Montclair Rowing High School Team from 2014 to 2018, he served as team Captain and was the record holder for the fastest freshman 2k erg time – a record he still holds.

Together, Coplan and his Varsity 8 teammates had a illustrious high school career as consecutive 2017 and 2018 Scholastic National Champions, New Jersey State Champions, Stotesbury Cup Champions and bronze medalists at Youth Nationals in 2017. Coplan was also part of the semi-finalist team at the Henley Royal Regatta and won a bronze medal at the 2016 Junior World Championships as part of his men’s four.

After graduating high school, Coplan was recruited to row at Harvard University, where he made a mark for himself as a member of the Harvard Heavyweight Rowing Team, as well as the U19 and U23 National Teams, winning bronze at the 2019 IRA National Championships and silver for Team USA at the 2021 U23 World Championship in his men’s eight.

He is currently working on his master’s degree at Cambridge University and is a member of their elite rowing team.

“Kenny was a member of our team for four years and always a standout rower and superb athlete,” attested his former MHS coach, Jeremy Michalitsianos.

“His work ethic was unparalleled and while with us, he won many championships and medaled for Team USA in the U19 World Championship,” Michalitsianos continued. “He continues to be a tremendous role model for our athletes and community, and we are extremely proud of his successes at Harvard and Cambridge and this incredible victory at The Boat Race.”

It would seem that Coplan’s fans in Montclair agree with his former coach. To celebrate his selection for The Boat Race, the Montclair High School Rowing Team – including coaches, alumni and members of the community – recently gathered at Egan & Sons in Montclair to watch the race together, packing the tavern with supporters there to proclaim: “Forever Row Blue.”

To learn more about the Montclair High School Rowing Team, visit www.friendsofmontclairrowing.o... or contact coach Lorna Rundle at lornarundle@hotmail.com.

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