GA rowers qualify for semifinals

Germantown Academy's Zach Burkhart and Jess Zettlemoyer closed the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association season by claiming gold in the boys' and girls' varsity single, respectively, in the City Championships.

The seniors, both on the rise, were back on the Schuylkill on Friday, this time looking to excel for the Patriots in the 89th annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta.

Under sunny skies and in a strong headwind at the world's oldest and largest high school scholastic event, Burkhart placed sixth in an afternoon time trial in 6 minutes, 22.40 seconds. Soon after, Zettlemoyer was fourth in 7:06.25.

"It was pretty bad as we started approaching the chute," Burkhart, 18, said of the stout and changing headwind. "I had to focus on maintaining my technique."

Despite the lingering effects of a sinus infection, Zettlemoyer, 18, joined her GA teammate in qualifying for Saturday morning's semifinals.

"I was definitely not feeling that great," she said. "I was coughing for the first half of the race."

Burkhart, of Pottstown, switched to the single after being part of the JV double last season. "Once I got a feel for the single, I really liked it," the 6-foot-3, 207-pounder said. "You get a chance to push your own limits."

Zettlemoyer, of Blue Bell, was a competitive swimmer, training under legendary GA coach Dick Shoulberg, before turning to rowing after her freshman year. Her brother, Eagan, now at freestyler at Emory, and parents, Eric and Christine, swam at GA.

"I wasn't getting any faster as a distance swimmer," Zettlemoyer said. "I didn't see much improvement. I knew it wasn't going to be my sport."

Burkhart, who is headed to Boston University, and Zettlemoyer, a Boston College recruit, credited GA coaches Libby Peters and Lauren Lehane for their improved performances.

Peters, in her first year as GA's director of rowing, rowed at The Gunnery, a boarding school in Connecticut, Columbia, and was part of the U.S. national team's lightweight quad. Lehane, the boys' head coach, shined at Agnes Irwin and Boston College.

Merion Mercy was first in the girls' varsity eight trials Friday with a clocking of 5:26.74. Mount St. Joseph, which has captured gold in the event in three of the last five years, was next in line in 5:27.24.

Holy Spirit, of Absecon, N.J., joined Merion and the Mount in reaching the semis with a seventh-place effort of 5:30.22. "It's a solid crew," said Joe Welsh, in his 24th year as the Spartans head coach. "They've been having a successful season."

In the boys' varsity eight, St. Joseph's Prep was fourth in the time trials in 4:38.51. Gonzaga (D.C.) took first with an impressive mark of 4:32.55. The semis are set to begin Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

"We did OK," St. Joe's Prep coach Jim Glavin said. "The key for us it to make it to the final. Hopefully, we have a good shot at it."

Holy Spirit (ninth, 4:49.60), St. Augustine (11th, 4:51.07), La Salle (13th, 4:54.30), and Ocean City (18th, 4:57.01) also earned semifinal berths.