John started rowing on the Susquehanna in 1973 after building his own single scull.
In 1982 he met with Randall Leavitt '85 to discuss the feasibility of starting a rowing
team at Bucknell. The team could not row from Lewisburg due to the low water so the team
moved to Shamokin Dam and began rowing from land owned by the Skotedis family. In 1985
John became the head coach of the men's and women's club rowing program. John's first
boat to win a gold medal was the men's four at the Kerr Cup in Philadelphia. John
went on to coach the 1987 menıs four that competed in the final of the Canadian Henley,
the 1989 men's eight that won bronze at the San Diego Crew Classic, and the 1991 menıs
four that won the first medal at Dad Vails. From 1986 to 1988 John coached Cindy Ryder
Matthes '88 who went on to win a gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games and then in
1992 became the first Bucknell graduate to represent the United States at the Olympic
Games. In 1987 John started a summer rowing program for area high school students with
included future Bucknell rowers Doug Lebda '92 and Kyle Betz '92. John was instrumental
in helping to elevate the program to varsity status, and after five years of attempts he
was named the first head coach to the men's and womenıs varsity crew program in 1990.
In 1992 he passed the reigns to Jimmy King, but John continues to be an active friend and
supporter of Bucknell rowing. John continues rowing a single on a regular basis in between
his busy schedule at Teddıs Landing and Teddıs on the Hill.
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