CREW: St. Joseph's Prep Wins Catholic League Crew Championships

St. Joseph's Prep Varsity 8 holding the PCL trophy - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci

Photos/Videos: Lennie Malmgren & Marc Narducci

By: MARC NARDUCCI

PHILADELPHIA - It starts right after school, that is where the St. Joseph Prep crew begins its daily, weekly and actually yearly quest for excellence.

For it is at these workouts that this area powerhouse begins setting the tone for each championship season.

And make no mistake, there are often multiple championships to celebrate, with this year being no exception.

One of those titles came on Saturday when St. Joe's Prep won the 2022 Philadelphia Catholic League Crew Championship on a gorgeous afternoon at the Schuylkill River.

It was the third consecutive Catholic League title and 42nd overall in the Prep’s storied history.

Throughout the years, those championships have been won during practices after school, where the competition is as intense as in many of the meets.

“Every day we come down here right after school,” said junior Owen Finnerty, speaking at the St. Joe's Prep boathouse after winning the title. “We just get after it and compete the entire time. Really sort of just tear each other down, but it just gets us better.”

Of course, the competition to be on the A boat is intense and so the same effort in practice, translates to the actual meets.

There is so much pressure being part of this program. Pressure to keep up the winning tradition and pressure just to make it to the main boat.

“There is a lot of pressure but the thing that is nice and what makes it easy is that I have really good kids,” coach John Fife said. “The kids make it easy for me and the coaches. They work really hard and come down here ready every day.”

When a team has that type of singular focus, it’s no wonder why the Prep is so successful.

The Prep won the Varsity 8, the Lightweight 8 and the Varsity 4+ in the Saturday’s championships.

PSD Reporter Marc Narducci takes on the river at the PCL Crew Championships - joined by St. Joseph's Prep junior Owen Finnerty and coach John Fife after winning the PCL title:

PCL Crew Championship Highlight's by Marc Narducci:

The Varsity 8 crew consisted of Luke Helstrom, Owen Finnerty, Luke Smith, Maximus Wilson, Owen McKenna, Giovanni Santaniello, Braedon Montgomery, Tom Cullen and coxswain Brendan Paul.

“Our Varsity 8 is trying to raise the bar from last year,” Fife said. “Last year our Varsity 8 won the national championship in Florida.”

Fife was referring to last year when the Hawks won the Varsity 8 at the US Rowing Youth National Regatta in Sarasota, Florida.

Of course, that was last year and now it serves as motivation for this season, as if this team needs any more incentive.

“We are trying to repeat that this year if not go faster,” said Fife, whose team will return to the same site to compete in the City Championship this Saturday and Sunday at the Schuylkill River. “One day at a time, one step at a time and happy how the day went.”

PCL Boys Crew Photo Gallery - PSD Photos by Lennie Malmgren

Besides the Varsity 8, the winning lightweight 8 in the Catholic League Championships consisted of Nick Salvati, John McGlynn, Robert Pelton, Peter Schmidt, Henry Brickner, Colton Oatway, Lucas Fraser, John Sullivan and coxswain Luke Joseph.

The winning Varsity 4+ consisted of Jack Young, Joseph Fontanilla, Kyle Grose, William Stutzman and coxswain Jack Williamson.

Even though the Hawks were heavy favorites to defend their Catholic League title, they took nothing for granted. The team members weren’t just racing for each other, but for the past rowers who have contributed to so many championships. .

“It is everything,” Finnerty said about winning the Catholic League title . "Obviously there is a long history of alumni and just to make them proud, it is a great feeling and why we work hard every day.”

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Archbishop Carroll Girls Win the Varsity 8 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

There was not a girls champion since only two schools competed, Archbishop Carroll and Bonner-Prendergast.

Those two schools raced in two exhibitions. One featured two Carroll Varsity 8 boats and one Bonner-Prendie quad.

The second was Carroll’s JV 4 against Bonner-Prendie’s lightweight quad.

“It was good racing all around,” Carrol coach Steve Genaro said. “We were racing different boats against each other. Both teams raced hard and got something and it was good moving into the City Championships.”

Bonner-Prendie coach Jonathan Lees agreed with Genaro that the experience benefited his team.

“One hundred percent it did,” Lees said. “We had an open weekend and with the city championships next weekend it gives us another great opportunity (to prepare).”