[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL MEN'S VARSITY CREW TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2007

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Men's Varsity 
Eight Crew team, who represented the United States in the Princess 
Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England on July 
4, 2007.
  I had the honor of meeting these tremendous students on May 12, 2007, 
after they won the Virginia Scholastic Championship, the first of their 
many victories during their outstanding season. The Thomas Jefferson 
Colonials' Varsity Eight earned an invitation to the Princess Elizabeth 
Challenge Cup after finishing a flawless season with a gold medal at 
the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championships in 
Camden, New Jersey. The TJ Crew Team also added the prestigious 
Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia to their list of victories after 
finishing first among 850 boats from 177 schools in the world's largest 
high school rowing event.
  Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was 
established in 1985 as a Virginia Governor's School for Math, Science 
and Technology. Thomas Jefferson leads the Nation in SAT scores, 
National Merit Semifinalists, and advance placement credits earned. 
This highly selective program serves over 1,800 students from Fairfax 
and surrounding counties in Northern Virginia. No student is selected 
on the basis of athletic ability, and no one on the dynastical crew had 
even rowed before coming to TJ. Despite the State's longest school day 
and most demanding science and mathematics program, the TJ varsity 
men's crew practice diligently every afternoon at Sandy Run Regional 
Park on the Occoquan River.
  Even with all their athletic success, the team's eight seniors have a 
truly impressive academic record with five National Merit Finalists, 
two Eagle Scouts, and one INTEL Science Fair Semi-Finalist. For their 
exemplary academic and athletic achievements, I would like to extend my 
most heartfelt congratulations to Ben Ranard, Dan Muir, Tom DellaFera, 
Lee Rumpf, Ty Otto, Marcos Carzolio, Christian Klein, Will Zeng, Raja 
Goel and Colin Haas. These young men are led by the varsity coach Jim 
Granger and assistant coach Andrew Fiebig.
  After concluding a remarkable season in the U.S., the TJ Crew team 
ventured into international waters this summer to compete for the 
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the annual Henley Royal Regatta in 
Oxfordshire, England. In a championship dominated by British schools, 
TJ aimed to become America's first public high school to win the 
international title in over 38 years. The TJ Crew team got off to a 
strong start in the first round and continued to gain momentum as they 
upset England's Winchester College to break through to the ``elite'' 
eight. Despite their best efforts, TJ's bid for the Princess Elizabeth 
Cup fell short after a heart-rending defeat to Brentwood College 
School, the Canadian national champions.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor Thomas Jefferson High 
School Men's Varsity Eight Crew for their remarkable success this 
season.

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