It is 4:30 AM and the Central Catholic rowing team has just rolled out of bed. They are on their way to the Three Rivers Rowing Club boathouse on the banks of the Allegheny River for a typical 5:30 AM practice.

You can find the crew team out on the water every morning from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM. If they are not on the water, chances are the rowers are lifting weights at the boathouse or rowing on the erg, a stationary rowing machine that each crew member has at home.

The difficult daily workouts mean that rowing is not for the faint of heart. Sophomore Brendan Maddigan, one of the most promising underclassman rowers currently on the team, talks about the grueling toll that crew can take on your body, saying, “It keeps you in shape, year-round. I’m not saying that you die in crew, but it’s definitely hard.”

Despite the difficult workouts, Brendan emphasizes the incredible friendships that he has been able to foster through his involvement with the crew team, adding, “I personally believe that friends who suffer together are stronger together.”

Chris Paluselli, another impressive sophomore rower, expands on the camaraderie felt between rowers, “Working together with my teammates and my friends creates a lot of unique experiences that you wouldn’t have in any other sport. To be able to train with a team of guys is what makes us so successful.”

These friends became pivotal during COVID-19. With rowers confined to their homes, the team relied on their teammates to ensure that workouts continued on pace despite the quarantine.

They also competed against other schools in a virtual race to make sure they did not lose their competitive edge.

Central Catholic’s rowing team has enjoyed much success over the years, advancing multiple teams to national championships and numerous regatta titles.

Last year, the crew team was able to participate in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA where they competed against top rowing schools in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa.

The crew team also enjoys success academically, in the number of collegiate scholarships that are awarded to rowers annually. This year, senior Blake Vogel has committed to row at the University of Washington, one of the best rowing schools in the nation. And senior Owen O’Malley will be rowing at the United States Naval Academy this coming fall.

Maddigan and Paluselli hope to pursue similar paths as they continue to climb the ranks of high school rowing. Maddigan has his sights set on MIT or the Naval Academy. Paluselli is working toward a similar goal.

Under the guidance of Jay Hammond, Central Catholic’s head coach, Maddigan seems poised to achieve his goal. Hammond brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, previously rowing at both Harvard and Oxford.

Now, Hammond is a lawyer for Consol Energy and continues to give back to his alma mater by spending his mornings on the water with the Central Catholic rowing team.

While the life of Central Catholic rowers may require many early mornings, the adrenaline rush that rowers experience when they are out on the water is like no other.

While they are constantly chasing collegiate scholarships every time they roll out of bed, the lifelong bonds they form with their teammates – now proudly called brothers – is incentive enough.