Photo(l-r); Aubrey Lewis, Graciela Preetam, Piper Konz, Molly Murphy, Beatrix Lay, Egypt Strickland
Hi! We, the Conshohocken Rowing Center's High-Performance Junior inaugural women's team comprised of six rowers: Aubrey Lewis (Conestoga High School ‘25, Boston University ‘29), Beatrix Lay (The Grayson School ‘25, Harvard University ‘29), Egypt Strickland (Upper Merion High School ‘27), Graciela Preetam (Germantown Friends School ‘26), Molly Murphy (Harriton High School ‘26), and Piper Konz (Abington Friends School ‘26), have been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race at the Women's Henley Regatta.
Why?
The U17 quad (Graciela Preetam, Egypt Strickland, Molly Murphy, Piper Konz) medaled at all of their races this fall, the highlight of their medals was winning at Head of the Charles in the U17 4x+. Many of their results were competitive with, or faster than, varsity times. The U19 women (Aubrey Lewis and Beatrix Lay) medaled at nearly every regatta. We want to bring this intensity to England! Our results from regional regattas this season place us among the top sculling programs in the Mid-Atlantic region. In just one season, we have shown tremendous growth in our speed and technique. Going to such an acclaimed regatta would be our chance to put the junior program on the map internationally and would attract significant attention for future seasons.
The cost of equipment rentals, travel, housing, food, entry fees, and blazers is~$40,000. We are looking to raise money to alleviate some of our club's financial burden. Please consider donating to help us achieve our goal. The Conshohocken Rowing Center is a non-profit entity, and all donations are tax-deductible.
We would like to thank all the people who have not only believed in us but also put their trust in the CRC High-Performance Junior program. Starting with our coaches Aaron Preetam, Bill McNabb, and Dylan Green, thank you for not only helping us all improve as athletes but also as people. Executive Director Craig Hoffman for believing in our speed. To the CRC stakeholders for our top-of-the-line equipment and boathouse, and lastly to our teammates, families, and friends for being our biggest supporters. Without any of these people, we would not have been given this opportunity.
We will keep those who support updated on this page as well as the team's Instagram (@crcjuniors_ )!
Rowers Bio's
Aubrey Lewis (17) has been rowing for 2 and 1/2 years now. She has competed in primarily sweeping events, taking 6th in the U174+ at HOCR 23’, 2nd at Mid Atlantics 24’ in the U19 W2V8+, and placed 9th overall at Youth nationals 24’ in the W2V 8+. Aubrey has also competed in sculling events, placing 2nd at HOSR in the U174x+ 22’ and 3rd in the same event the following year. She has been in stroke seat for the majority of her rowing career and loves it. She is always ready to jump in and help out wherever she can, which led her to compete at HOCR 24’ in a women’s collegiate eight event before she even graduated high school! Aubrey decided to transfer to CRC wanting a more competitive surrounding and goals, she saw promise in the program and decided it was a good fit to help her continue to improve, on and off the water. The team and coaches she has found at CRC have made an enormous positive impact on her life and she is very grateful for everything they have done for her and she knows they will continue to support her as she does for them. Aubrey is continuously motivated by her older sister, who initially introduced her to rowing, and her teammates.
Beatrix Lay (17) is an accomplished rower coming from multiple years just down the river at Whitemarsh Boat Club. Her first successes there were in the U174+, where she won Mid-Atlantics (2022) before a 6th place finish at Youth Nationals (also 2022). Later that year, her 4+ won Canadian Henley after a sweep of all local races, and in fall they won the Head of the Charles. Since the spring of 2023, she has been racing in Whitemarsh’s varsity 8+. During her two years in the boat, she has come first (2023) and second (2024) at Mid-Atlantics, and placed among the top 14 at Nationals both years. During the summer, she continued to race for Whitemarsh and led their U19 4+ to a win at Canadian Henley, with the U19 8+ (that she also raced in) finishing second. Most recently, she is returning from a summer at U19 Selection Camp in Chula Vista. While due to health reasons she did not race, she is anticipating to return next year. This fall Bea raced primarily in the U19 1x, putting in the fastest times for juniors of the day at King’s Head, Navy Day, and the Gold Cup. She also won in CRC’s U19 4x at Frostbite at the end of the fall season. Bea loves the technical and competitive challenges of rowing and is described by her peers as focused, committed, and thorough. Her love of rowing extends beyond competing, as she has coached the Learn-to-Rows at her club for two summers. She will continue rowing in college at Harvard University as a part of their class of 2029. Bea is so excited at the opportunity to race internationally at Henley before college to take her racing experience to the next level.
Egypt Strickland (15) is continuing her 2nd year of rowing. While rowing in her novice year with Upper Merion HS/Pegasus, she placed first at all Manny Flicks (2024) in the single event, won City Championships, placed 3rd at the Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships, and finished 19th overall in the U17 W1x at Youth Nationals (2024), Egypt transferred to CRC in hopes to continue her streak of success. This past summer with CRC, she placed 3rd at the Independence Day Regatta and 1st at Philadelphia Youth in the U17 W2x (bow), leading up to her race at the Canadian Henley. While serving as 3 seat in the U17 4x/4x+ this past fall, she’s successfully taken gold at Head of the Schukyill, King’s Head Regatta, and Head of the Charles (1st U17 4x+, 15th overall). Egypt took home double gold at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta in the varsity 2x (bow) and the varsity 4x (2 seat). In the single this fall, she placed 2nd at King’s Head Regatta, 4th at Head of the Schukyill, and 2nd at The Gold Cup (Hoffman Challenge). She would like to thank her parents, Tony and Neferteri Strickland, for their unwavering support, guidance, and love throughout the years. She would also like to thank her novice coaches, Franck and Caroline Kiser, for helping her fall in love with the sport of rowing. Last but certainly not least, she’d like to thank coaches Aaron Preetam, Dylan Green, and Bill McNabb for her success as a rower.
Graciela Preetam (16) is continuing a very successful year by participating in the CRC summer program, where she placed 3rd in the U17 W2x in stroke at Independence Day Regatta and 1st in her heat at Philly Youth Regatta, leading her double to race at the Canadian Henley. As a U17, she competed in the stroke seat for most of her races placing 3rd at Mid Atlantics in her youth straight four which then led her to be very successful at youth nationals placing 16th in the country, in the year prior (2023) she placed 10th in the U16 8+. This past fall Graciela raced in stroke of the U17 4x/4x+, racing at Kings Head Regatta, Head of the Charles, 1st U174x+, 15th overall, and Head of the Schuylkill. Graciela finished her fall racing at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta in stroke of the varsity 2x where she placed first in her flight and overall. Graciela has also been put on the long list for the Dominican Republic Junior National Team for Junior Pan Am qualifiers this spring in Paraguay! She would like to thank her parents, Aaron Preetam and Carole Loeffler, for their constant support and encouragement throughout her rowing career, her teammates for keeping her afloat, and her coaches for their time and dedication.
Molly Murphy (16) is a dedicated rower who puts effort into rowing on and off the water and started her rowing career in the summer before her freshman year in 2022. At youth nationals in 2023 and 2024, she placed top ten in the U16 8+ and the U17 8+ following a spring with medals in every regatta. Keeping this streak going, this fall saw her most successful season of regattas placing at every one as 2 seat in the U17 4x. Most notably she won gold at Head of the Charles and Head of the Schuylkill. Molly initially joined CRC in hopes of a competitive junior year of rowing, but the community she found at CRC is one she is most thankful for. Her teammates have cheered her on every step of the way and her coaches have helped her reach further than her own expectations.
Piper Konz (16) started rowing competitively in the summer of 2022. Over the course of two years, she has shown tremendous growth as an athlete, particularly in sweep rowing. In the fall of 2023, she raced bow seat in a U17 4+, which placed 6th at HOCR. This spring she medaled in every race before placing 9th in the U17 8+ at Nationals, managing to beat her 10th place U16 8+ finish in 2023. She joined CRC this fall looking for challenging and intentional coaching. The U17 4x, which she bowed, medaled in every regatta including gold at HOCR. She also placed first at King’s Head Regatta in the U17 1x, her first ever head race in a single. This season showcased her dedication to the sport, not only through medals, but through her improved sculling technique and successes as a bow. Her parents are her biggest supporters, and she is forever grateful for the time they have put into helping her succeed.
Articles
Kings Head Regatta 2024
Head of the Charles 2024
Head of the Schuylkill Regatta 2024
Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta 2024
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