By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A Staples High School graduate will soon travel to Italy with three fellow rowers for an international competition.

Justin Schmidt, who graduated Staples in 2019 and is now studying at the University of Delaware, this week heads to the U23 World Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy. The competition runs July 24 through 30.

Schmidt will travel with teammates Simon Dubiel, Eli Rabinowitz and Troy Riesenberger

They’re members of the Conshohocken Rowing Center. Conshohocken is a town northwest of Philadelphia. They qualified for the event in Italy at a competition in Sarasota last month.

Schmidt also rowed with the Saugatuck Rowing Club.

He is studying finance with a minor in management information systems. He and teammates typically start their morning rowing practice on the Schuylkill River about 6:30 a.m. before heading to classes or internships a few hours later.

“And then we’re back on the water again from 5 to 7:30,” he said of their evening routine.

In addition to travel expenses, the teammates have to rent a boat and oars. They’ve got a gofundme page to help defray the costs.

Schmidt loves rowing, and said it’s satisfying when the team works on a new technique, and everything eventually comes together.

“Synchronizing the stroke, seeing how smooth the flow of the boat gets when we get there is really exciting,” he said. “Teamwork is essential.”