Conshohocken Lightweights Do Heavy Lifting at Head of the Charles Regatta

Conshohocken Rowing Center’s high performance team captured gold at The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), with Justin Schmidt winning the men’s lightweight single, and Aislinn O’Brien and Claire Friedlander winning lightweight gold in the women’s championship double, continuing their championship year.

Schmidt represented the United States at Senior Worlds in Shanghai, China in September, finishing 10th in the world, after winning and qualifying at the 2025 US National Team Selection Trials. In August, he captured third at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta (RCHR), in both the lightweight men’s championship single and the senior heavyweight championship quad. In July, Schmidt won double gold at the US Rowing RowFest National Championships in the men’s open lightweight championship single and the men’s open heavyweight championship quad. He followed this week’s HOCR victory with a third place finish in the heavyweight category in the Redgrave Challenge Men’s Championship Singles at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (HOSR) on October 25.

O’Brien and Friedlander’s gold performance at HOCR was their third doubles win since the summer, previously winning the senior women’s lightweight double at RCHR and the open lightweight double at Rowfest. They were also gold winners in the championship lightweight quad at RCHR. Friedlander also won the women’s championship lightweight single at RCHR and the 2025 Lottie McAlice Championship Challenge in the women’s single at Head of the Ohio earlier this month. They followed their HOCR win with a one-two finish in the Redgrave Challenge Women’s Championship Light Singles at HOSR, with gold for Friedlander and silver for O’Brien.

“Justin, Claire, and Aislinn embody the talent, spirit, and competitive edge vital to success in lightweight rowing on a national and international stage,” said Craig Hoffman, head coach and executive director of Conshohocken Rowing Center. “Funding and opportunities are limited so an extra commitment is needed on and off the water to make these championships possible.”

Next up for the three are the US Rowing Fall Speed Order this November.

The Conshohocken Rowing Center high performance competitive team is comprised of elite U23 and senior rowers competing on a national and international level. The program utilizes CRC’s world class facility and state of the art equipment to maximize potential and performance.