Conshohocken Rowing Center Captures 6 Gold & 4 Trophies at King's Head Regatta Season Opener

BRIDGEPORT, PA – September 28 – Conshohocken Rowing Center (CRC) raced to six golds with ten podium finishes at The King's Head Regatta on Sunday, with decisive wins in all three U19 quad competitions (men’s, women’s and mixed), the men’s U17 quad, the women’s U19 doubles, and a repeat of their 1-2 finish in the women’s U17 single. CRC also captured additional medals in three doubles events: men’s U19, women’s U17, and the parent/child race.

CRC’s performance yielded four trophies: The Lois Trench-Hines Cup in Women’s U19 quad, The Upper Merion Boat Club (UMBC) Commodore’s Trophy in Men’s U19 quad, The John F. Leonard Trophy in Men’s U17 quad, and The Delta Blues Trophy in Women’s U19 double. All 15 rowers had at least one top three finish, with eight capturing two or more medals.

Piper Konz delivered the day’s top performance for the team, going three for three with gold medals bowing the women’s U19 quad, women’s U19 double, and mixed U19 quad. All three of her teammates in the women’s gold-winning U19 quad also went on to additional medals. Graciela Preetam rowed stroke alongside Konz for gold in both women’s U19 races and took third in the parent/child race, with her father Coach Aaron Preetam. Emiko Kubach captured her second gold of the day in the women’s U17 single, with her quad boatmate Egypt Strickland taking silver in the women’s U17 single for the second consecutive year.

All four rowers in the men’s gold-winning U19 quad also went on to capture second medals, led by Rowan Arendt with gold in the men’s U17 quad, Graham Kokas with gold in the mixed U19 quad, and John Hiester and Jackson Stoddard with silver in the men’s U19 double.

Victory in the men’s U17 quad boated Arendt with teammates David Bauml, Grant Goldfine, and John Walish, holding off 12 contenders for the gold. Joining Konz and Kokas in the gold performance in the mixed U19 quad were Max Niescior and Madeline Nielson.

In their team debut, Kiyoko Kubach and Elsa Deitz delivered an impressive third place performance in the women’s U17 double. Kiyoko also finished seventh in the women’s U17 single, behind her sister Emiko and Strickland. In CRC’s other races, Nielson finished fourth in the women’s U19 single, while Niescior finished fifth in the men’s U17 single.

"The King’s Head Regatta is a good measuring stick for our current level of training. The team’s relative success is a sign that we are trending in the right direction," said Head Coach Aaron Preetam. "However, our ultimate objective is performing at the highest level possible at Nationals. Keeping our sights on our collective goals will keep us focused throughout the rest of the season and the coming year."

"CRC is first and foremost a team and every accomplishment a team one," said CRC Executive Director Craig Hoffman. "When I see these young athletes coming to regattas hours before their own races and staying until the very last finish line even after personal exhaustion, I am proud of their character and their commitment to their boatmates, their teammates, and being part of CRC. That's what makes them champions."

The Conshohocken Rowing Center Junior Competitive High Performance Race Team is comprised of 17 high school rowers and coxswains from across the region who were selected for their dedication, achievement, and performance on and off the water. The team is based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, under the leadership of CRC Executive Director Craig Hoffman, Head Coach Aaron Preetam, and coaches Bill McNabb, Aislinn O’Brien and Evie Holder who collectively bring more than 100 years of rowing expertise and mentorship to the program. For information, visit conshohockenrowingcenter.org.

Full CRC Results from The King's Head Regatta

WU19 quad: First. Graciela Preetam, Egypt Strickland, Emiko Kubach, and Piper Konz

MU19 quad: First. Rowan Arendt, John Hiester, Jackson Stoddard, and Graham Kokas

MU17 quad: First. Rowan Arendt, David Bauml, Grant Goldfine, and John Walish

Mixed U19 quad: First. Graham Kokas, Max Niescior, Madeline Nielson, and Piper Konz

WU19 double: First. Graciela Preetam and Piper Konz

WU17 single: First. Emiko Kubach, Second. Egypt Strickland, Seventh. Kiyoko Kubach

MU19 double: Second. John Hiester and Jackson Stoddard

WU17 double: Third. Kiyoko Kubach and Elsa Deitz

Parent/child double: Third. Aaron Preetam and Graciela Preetam

WU19 single: Fourth. Madeline Nielson

MU17 single: Fifth. Max Niesciar

Hometowns and Schools

Rowan Arendt (16), Philadelphia, PA (Central High School ‘27)

David Bauml (15), Gladwyne, PA (Harriton High School ‘28)

Elsa Deitz* (16), Bryn Mawr, PA (The Baldwin School ‘27)

Grant Goldfine* (15), Bryn Mawr, PA (Radnor High School ‘28)

Graham Kokas* (17), Bryn Mawr, PA (The Shipley School ‘27)

Piper Konz (17), Ambler, PA (Abington Friends School, ‘26)

Emiko Kubach (16), Wayne, PA (The Agnes Irwin School ‘27)

Kiyoko Kubach* (14), Wayne, PA (The Agnes Irwin School ‘29)

John Hiester (17), Wynnewood, PA (Harriton High School ‘26)

Madeline Nielson* (17), Gladwyne, PA (Harriton High School ‘27)

Max Niescior* (16), Wynnewood, PA (Harriton High School ‘27)

Graciela Preetam (17), Philadelphia, PA (Germantown Friends School ‘26)

Jackson Stoddard* (17), Wyndmoor, PA (William Penn Charter School ‘27)

Egypt Strickland (16), King of Prussia, PA (Upper Merion High School ‘27)

John Walish (16), Wayne, PA (University Scholars Program, PALCS ‘27)

*Denotes CRC rowers making their team debut at The King's Head Regatta