Conshohocken Rowing Center Caps Season Winning 2 Golds at Frostbite

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – November 10 – Conshohocken Rowing Center (CRC) finished their winning inaugural season with two gold medals at Frostbite Regatta, besting contenders from across the region.

Graciela Preetam and Egypt Strickland dominated in the Women’s High School Varsity Double, winning their heat and recording the best time in their event. Strickland went on to win her second gold of the day, alongside teammates Piper Konz, Beatrix Lay, and Aubrey Lewis in the Women’s High School Varsity Quad.

CRC’s men’s frosh/novice team of David Bauml and Brendan O’Connor finished third in the Men’s High School Frosh/Novice Double. The Men’s High School Varsity Quad of Rainer Arendt, Rowan Arendt, John Hiester, and John Walish finished fourth in their first sprint race and only second quad race of the season. Both men’s boats recorded times that surpassed the first place times of the other heats in their respective events.

CRC’s women’s quad has recorded a podium finish in all five of their races this season. The quad previously took home gold in their team’s debut in the Women’s U17 quad at King’s Head Regatta, silver in Women’s Coxed Quad at Navy Day Regatta, medaled for fastest U17 in the Women’s Coxed Quad at Head of the Charles, and took gold last week in the Women’s High School Junior Varsity Quad at Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. This was the second podium finish for CRC in women’s double this season, having previously won silver in the Women’s Varsity Double at Navy Day Regatta.

The varsity men’s team previously had podium finishes in three regattas this season. They finished third in the Men’s U17 Single at King’s Head Regatta, first in the Men’s Varsity Double and second in the Men's Open Double at Navy Day Regatta, and first in the Men’s High School Junior Varsity Single at Head of the Schuylkill.

CRC’s mixed varsity quad had previously won gold as a Mixed Varsity Quad at King’s Head Regatta and bronze as a Mixed Championship Quad at Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.

The Conshohocken Rowing Center Junior Competitive Race Team is comprised of 12 high school rowers from across the region who were selected for their dedication, achievement, and performance on and off the water. The team is based in Conshohocken under the leadership of CRC executive director Craig Hoffman, head coach Aaron Preetam, and coaches Bill McNabb and Dylan Green who collectively bring more than 100 years of rowing expertise and mentorship to the program. For information, visit conshohockenrowingcenter.org. Interested rowers can apply for consideration at https://forms.gle/yZX7GdwsHRrHduQq8 .

Hometowns and Schools for CRC Team:

• Rainer Arendt (17), Philadelphia, PA (Masterman School ‘25)
• Rowan Arendt (15), Philadelphia, PA (Central High School ‘27)
• David Bauml (14), Gladwyne, PA (Harriton High School ‘28)
• Piper Konz (16), Ambler, PA (Abington Friends School ‘26)
• John Hiester (16), Wynnewood, PA (Harriton High School ‘26)
• Beatrix Lay (17), Bryn Mawr, PA (The Grayson School ‘25)
• Aubrey Lewis (17), Wayne, PA (Conestoga High School ‘25)
• Molly Murphy (16), Bryn Mawr, PA (Harriton High School ‘26)
• Brendan O’Connor (15), Wayne, PA (Conestoga High School ‘28)
• Graciela Preetam (16), Philadelphia, PA (Germantown Friends School ‘26)
• Egypt Strickland (15), King of Prussia, PA (Upper Merion High School ‘27)
• John Walish (15), Wayne, PA (University Scholars Program ‘27)