The Conestoga Crew Club provides students at Conestoga High School with an opportunity to learn the sport of rowing in an environment designed to promote sportsmanship, new friendships and accomplishment. The Club rows at Bachelors Barge Club on Philadelphia's nationally recognized boat house row.

Under the direction of head Coach Paul Coomes and faculty advisor Dave Grace, the club competes locally, regionally, and nationally. Any student at Conestoga High School is eligible for membership and prior rowing experience is not necessary.

Our Philosophy

Winning is Good;

Racing is better;

Loving to row is best!

During our brief history, the club has competed successfully in local, regional, and national events. For example, at the 2000 Scholastic Rowing Association Nationals, we took first place in the Varsity Women's Quad, first place in the junior varsity woman's double, and second place in the men's varsity double. We are proud of our competitive results, and the drive and enthusiasm they represent in our athletes.

Coaches' Biographies

Head Coach - Paul Coomes

Paul serves as the Head Coach for Conestoga. He helped with the start-up of the Club in 1998 and has served as the Club’s Head Coach since its inception. In 2007, Paul was honored by the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia by being named the Schuylkill Navy’s Coach of the Year. He is a US Rowing Level II Certified Coach and currently serves as the Head Coach for Bachelors Barge Club summer and fall Junior Sculling Programs. He also serves as the Head Coach for PA Rowing Camps’ Junior Rowing Programs.

He was previously the Head Women's Coach at Undine Barge Club in 2001 and 2002 and the Head Junior Coach in 2000. Six of his crews while coaching at Undine won National Championships and in 2001 Undine Barge Club won the overall women's team point trophy at the US Rowing National Championships. Most notably, a 4x filled with three women athletes from Undine under his direction won the I-Lan International Invitational Regatta in Taiwan in 2001.

He rowed at the University of Dayton from 1992 - 1995 and helped startup the club rowing program at Dayton. He was named US Rowing Academic All-American in 1994 and was the recipient of the Competitor' Cup Award at the University of Dayton in 1993 and 1994.

Paul received a Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from the University of Dayton. He works for SCA in Philadelphia as a Technical Product Manager and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Novice Coach - Amy Giddings

Amy serves as lead administrator for PA Rowing Camps and the Philadelphia Community Boathouse Initiative and also coaches a number of the programs. She rowed at the University of Dayton during her undergraduate studies and at Temple University during her graduate studies. She holds a Master's degree in Sport and Recreation Administration and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology at Temple University while working full time as a professor at Drexel University in Sport Management Department.

Major Rowing Highlights include:

• 2003 U.S. National Champion - Elite Women's Lightweight 4+
• 2003 Head of the Charles - 1st Place - Lightweight Women's 4+
• 2002 U.S. National Champion - Women's Open Int 4x
• 2002 Royal Canadian Henley- 1st Place - Women's Senior 4x
• 2002 U.S. National Championships - 2nd Place - Senior Women's Open 8+
• 2002 Head of the Charles - 2nd Place - Lightweight Women's 4+
• 2001 I-Lan Invitational Regatta (Taiwan) - 1st Place - Lightweight Women's 4x
• 2001 U.S. National Championships - 2nd Place - Elite Lightweight Women's 4x
• 2001 U.S. National Championships - 2nd Place - Lightweight Women's Int 4x
• 2001 U.S. National Championships - 2nd Place - Women's Open Int 4x
• 2001 U.S. National Championships - 3rd Place - Senior Lightweight Women's 4x
• 2001 Head of the Charles - 1st Place - Lightweight Women's 4+
• 2000 Head of the Charles - 1st Place - Lightweight Women's 4+
• 2000 World Indoor Rowing Championships - Top Ten Finalist

Assistant Varsity Coach – Cody Lowry

Cody began his rowing career at Oklahoma City University in 2000 where he was a member of the first club team at the school. After a year and a half absence from the sport, he then returned in the fall of 2002. In 2003, he trained and competed at the Minneapolis Rowing Club with a senior/pre-elite program. In 2004, Cody moved to Philadelphia with the goal of making the US National team. He has since been a member of the Undine Barge Club racing team on boathouse row. Since arriving in Philadelphia, Cody is now a two time National Team member in the Lightweight Men’s Double sculls in 2006, and Lightweight Men’s Quadruple sculls in 2007. This year Cody is training with the goal of making the Beijing Olympic Games in the Men’s Lightweight Double sculls.

Cody is serving in his third season as the Assistant Varsity Coach. In addition to Conestoga, he has been an Assistant and Head Coach at Oklahoma City University, as well as head coach of several summer, fall, and winter programs at Bachelors Barge Club.

Cody works full – time as an ESL instructor for Berlitz – ELS at St. Joseph’s University and lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Susan Lowry. He has an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, and a Master’s in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). Cody’s interests include mixed martial arts, fly-fishing, Japanese, Asian history and his cats Bear and Tommy Gunn.

Major Rowing Highlights Include:

• 2007 Head of the Charles – 5th Place – Lightweight Men’s 1x
• 2007 World Rowing Championships (Munich, Germany) - 6th Place - Lightweight Men’s 4x
• 2007 U.S. Trials - Time Standard; 6:01 - Lightweight Men’s 4x
• 2007 U.S. Elite National Championships – 2nd Place - Men’s Open 4x
• 2006 Head of the Charles - 7th Place - Lightweight Men’s 1x
• 2006 World Rowing Championships (Eton, England) – 17th Place – Lightweight Men’s 2x
• 2006 U.S. Rowing World Championship Trials – 1st Place – Lightweight Men’s 2x
• 2006 World Cup Regatta (Lucerne, Switzerland) – 13th Place – Lightweight Men’s 2x
• 2006 U.S. National Selection Regatta – 1st Place – Lightweight Men’s 2x
• 2005 Head of the Schuylkill - 1st Place - Lightweight Men’s 1x
• 2004 Head of the Schuylkill - 1st Place - Lightweight Men’s 1x
• 2004 U.S. National Championships – 1st Place – Lightweight Men’s Intermediate 1x

Assistant Novice Coach - Liz Etherington

Liz is excited to be back for a fifth season with the novices of the Conestoga Crew program. Liz is one of the 11 founding members of the Conestoga rowing team. She was stroke of the Girl’s Varsity Quad for two years before graduating in 2000. She rowed for the Rollins College Varsity 8+ during the 2002 season before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania where she was a member of the Penn Rowing Team during the 2003 season.

Liz graduated with a BSN from the Penn Nursing program in May 2007. She spent the summer as a leader for teenage adventure travel groups in Hawaii and Costa Rica, and now works as a nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Assistant Novice Coach – Sue Casey Lowry

Sue moved to Philadelphia 2004 and has been a member of the Undine Barge Club racing team on boathouse row for the last 4 years. Her last competitive race was this past fall at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston and she has since hung up her oars for leisurely rowing, running and other fun outdoor activities.

Before moving to Philadelphia with her husband, Cody, she was in graduate school at the University of Tulsa where she was the second assistant coach for the women’s rowing team. Sue is a four-year letter winner at The University of Tulsa (1999-2003) and served as a co-captain of the women's rowing team her senior year. During her collegiate career, Sue earned the TU Rowing Athlete of the Year and Varsity MVP awards, as well as the "Hammer Award" her senior year for the low team 2K erg score. She was also named to the TU Ultimate Team, given to the top-seven student-athletes that have exemplified the qualities and characteristics which are consistent with the missions and values of The University of Tulsa. She also received the Hurricane Heart and Pride Award as a junior, as well as the TU First Year Rower and Overall Contribution award as a freshman. Sue spent her summers (2001-03) rowing for a US Rowing Senior Development Team in Rutherford, N.J.

Sue received her bachelor's degree in communication in May of 2003. She currently works full-time for a commercial real estate firm in downtown Philadelphia where she is a research analyst.

Major Rowing Highlights Include:

• 2007 Head of The Charles - 1st Place - Lightweight Women’s 4+
• 2006 Head of the Charles - 1st Place - Lightweight Women’s 4+
• 2005 Head of The Schuylkill - 1st Place - Women’s Open 4x
• 2005 Head of The Charles - 2nd Place - Lightweight Women’s 4+
• 2005 Royal Canadian Henley - 1st Place - Senior Women’s 4x
• 2004 Head of the Schuylkill - 3rd Place - Lightweight Women’s 1x
• 2004 U.S. National Championships - 1st Place - Senior Women’s Open 4x
• 2004 U.S. National Championships - 2nd Place - Intermediate Women’s Lightweight 2x
• 2003 U.S. National Championships - 1st Place - Lightweight Women’s 8+
• 2003 U.S. National Championships - 1st Place - Lightweight Women’s 4+
• 2003 Royal Canadian Henley - 1st Place- Senior Lightweight Women’s 8+
• 2003 Royal Canadian Henley - 1st Place - Senior B Lightweight Women’s 8+
• 2003 Royal Canadian Henley - 1st Place - Senior B Lightweight Women’s 4-
• 2003 World Indoor Rowing Championships - Top Ten Collegiate Finalist
• 2001 San Diego Crew Classic - 1st Place - Women’s Open 8+ Cal Cup

Assistant Novice Coach – Lauren Bradley

Lauren is in her first year as an Assistant Novice Coach for Conestoga. She is one of the 11 founding members of the Conestoga rowing team. She was bow of the Girl’s Varsity Quad for three years before graduating in 2001. She rowed all four years of college at Southern Methodist University and was named co-captain during her senior year.

Lauren graduated with a degree in Finance in 2005 from SMU. Lauren works as a financial analysis specialist in the Group Insurance Pricing Department for CIGNA Corporation downtown Philadelphia.

Assistant Coach - Jon D'Alba

Jon began his rowing career at Conestoga High School as one of the teams 11 original members. He graduated from the George Washington University as a four-year rower with a BS in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, he received the Male Athlete of the Year Award for all of GW Athletics. Jon was selected to the US National Team in 2006 and 2007 in the Lightweight 8+ and the Lightweight 4x, respectively. He is currently training full time in hopes to make the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Jon previously coached for Conestoga as the Assistant Novice Coach in 2004 and was also an Assistant Coach for PA Rowing Camps from 2001-2003. He currently works full time at Urban Engineers, Inc. as a Highway Design Engineer.

Major Rowing Highlights Include:

• 2007 World Rowing Championships, Munich, Germany: 6th Place (LWT Quad)
• 2006 World Rowing Championships, Eton, England: 5th Place (LWT Eight)
• 2006 and 2007 US Rowing National Team Trials: 1st Place (LWT Eight and LWT Quad)
• 2003 and 2006 MVP: GW Crew
• 2003 US Rowing National Team Trials: 2nd Place (LWT Single)
• 2001 and 2002 Royal Canadian Henley Champion (Jr. Double and Under 23 LWT 1x)
• 2001 and 2002 US Rowing National Champion (Jr. Double and LWT Intermediate Single)
• 1999 and 2001 MVP: Conestoga Crew

Advisor and Assistant Coach – Weight Training - Keith MacConnell

Keith is an active member of the Conestoga community, serving as English Literature teacher, Sophomore Class Adviser and Interact Club coordinator, among other duties. Keith competes recreationally in various athletic competitions including touch football and organized road and trail races. He maintains personal fitness through weight training and outdoor activities, such as trail running and hiking.

Keith received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English from Villanova University in 1997. He worked as a Business Process Management Consultant for Accenture, LTD for 5+ years before returning to Villanova University in 2003 to earn his Master’s of Arts in Education degree.