Forty-six people, current and alumni rowers from Mathews High School and Mobjack Rowing Association and MHS/MRA coaches Tim Ulsaker, Vernon Rowe and Christina Tomcany (and her son Sam), braved a cold gray windy Christmas Eve morning to maintain the 19th Annual MRA tradition of an early morning row on the East River from their home at Williams Wharf.

This year’s group included three valedictorians, 12 current or past collegiate scholarship rowers, an elite/national team level rower, an elite level coxswain with a third of the gathering currently rowing in local high school programs. Ten have or are currently coaching crew, five are teachers, 10 are pursuing professional careers and four have children that will surely be encouraged to continue this tradition, Ulsaker said.

Over half of this group has won state, national and international medals from many of the world’s most prestigious rowing competitions. Scholarship totals earned since 1994 by Mathew...