2020 Conestoga HS Grad To Row For Cornell

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA — As the Conestoga High School Class of 2020 celebrates its graduation on July 21, one graduate is also celebrating his commitment to Cornell University's Heavyweight Rowing Crew. Max Harmon, a latecomer to the sport, claimed four gold medals in the summer of 2019.

Harmon's high grades at Conestoga High School and his determination to overcome childhood limitations helped him garner the offer. He suffered a catastrophic sledding accident in grade school, one that left him in a wheelchair. While a student at Devon Elementary, he was in physical therapy and almost always in pain. His mom credits rowing with helping him finally regain his strength and health.

"He fought incredibly hard," said Rachel Harmon. "In ninth grade he finally became well, started in tenth grade never having rowed."

Though a novice rower his sophomore year, Harmon took the Novice Gold at the Philly Youth Regatta in 2018. "We thought, 'maybe he’s kind of good at this,'" Mrs. Harmon said.

Max Harmon would tell his family he does well because, "I know what pain is." His early accident and subsequent therapy gave him what he needed to be a rower, his mother said.

The Conestoga rowing team was winning races Max's junior year. "We were competing at a pretty good level," he said. He also earned the grades he needed for Cornell. A straight-A student, Max claimed the following prizes in 2019:

• Gold medal winner Royal Canadian Henley
• Gold medal winner Stotesbury Cup
• Gold medal winner Mid-Atlantic Championships
• Gold Medal winner US National Championships

Races for the 2020 season were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Max will begin fall classes as an undecided major in school of arts and science, probably going business, he said.

Conestoga High School's Wednesday, July 21 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. will gather the class of 2020 to receive diplomas, with parent excluded in order to provide space for social distancing.