Episcopal Academy Rowers Receive Recognition for Schuylkill Sportsmanship

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Sophomore James Konopka and junior Nick Mead of finished last in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on Oct. 30 but came out on top in the eyes of many.

The two rowers were competing in an Under-17 doubles race when a St. Joseph's Prep boat had capsized. After hearing their cries for help, the two EA students paddled back to rescue their opponents.

For their heroic acts on the Schuylkill, Christopher Blackwell, Head of the Schuylkill Regatta race director, recently presented the two rowers with the Thomas Eakins Medal of the Schuylkill Regatta for showing "great presence, maturity and selflessness and the true spirit of the sport of rowing," according to the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta's website.

*That day, still undergoing a cold front, from the two boys didn't hesitate to paddle back to assist the Prep rowers, Joe Leonard and Andrew Burrichter, who were in the water, until a referee's launch was able to arrive to the scene.

"We just had snow the night before–the water was probably freezing," recalled EA rowing coach Rob Maier. "It was the coldest day in October."

When Maier realized Mead and Konopka were nowhere near their expected position in the middle of the pack during the race, he knew something was wrong.

"I was with our other coach, Bruce Konopka," remembered Maier. "We were down at the finish line waiting to see them–it's a 2.5-mile race and it's a timed trial. We knew they were starting in the middle of the pack and expected them to come down somewhere in the middle of the pack but when the middle of the pack came and left without them, we were curious. We thought they either started out of order or had mechanical trouble,"

But when they found out the young EA rowers had gone back to help the St. Joe's Prep rowers, after coming in dead last, Maier said he immediately shook their hands.

"It ties in with culture on the Schuylkill–whenever someone on the Schuylkill seems to be in trouble, the other boats will come over to assist," said Maier. "But that's difficult for any practice–that kind of spirit of cooperation."

Not only was it the 'spirit of the Schuylkill,' the two boys also exemplified one of EA's 10 stripes of character–one of which is sportsmanship and the stripe of the month.

Although it's not the first time a team has helped a capsized boat on the Schuylkill but Maier can't recall a time when it was during an actual race.

"I think it just reinforced how important it is to be cooperative and to be on the look out for anyone out in the water," said Maier. "It is great to be able to reflect on our athletes when they distinguish themselves in a way that exemplifies their sportsmanship, good character, and regard for things that are larger than themselves."

*Editor's note: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that the two EA rowers had jumped into the water to help rescue the Prep rowers.