Anthony Carella attended Hebron Academy in 2017 for a post graduate year, not yet ready for college, and seeking more athletic exposure on the ice. After attending Hebron, which he credits for helping him get into the right college and receive an academic scholarship, Anthony walked on to the crew team at Hobart William-Smith College, and it has changed his life.

This December, Anthony and three friends are participating in the World's Toughest Row Atlantic, a fully unsupported, 3,000 mile open ocean rowing race. If all goes as planned, he will spend 30-40 days at sea and in doing so, raise funds for youth development programs, including Friends of the Children in Boston, MA. As Anthony and his team carefully plan for this exciting and adventurous challenge, he looks back on parts of his life that have led him to this goal. 

Anthony, who grew up in Vaughn, Ontario, committed to a PG year at Hebron Academy to play hockey after attending St. Michael’s College School in Toronto. However, upon reflection, his experience through Hebron hockey and the full Hebron experience, gave him much more than he expected. “My time at Hebron Academy truly turned my life around,” he shares. The athletic program at Hebron challenged him to try new sports and and grow as a leader, but the impact was greater than that: “Not only did Hebron athletics shape who I am, but for the first time in my life I was told by my PG English teacher, Mrs. Leblanc, that I was a good writer, which gave me the confidence to challenge myself academically in college.” It was his cross-country coach, Mr. Tholen who first introduced Anthony to the erg machine as a fitness tool and indirectly led him to walk onto the rowing team at Hobart William-Smith College.

After several years of competitive rowing at a high level, Anthony and his teammates sought out a new challenge. Today, they are preparing for their grueling, and exciting, Race Across the Atlantic with a lot of time on the erg and on the water. In addition to serious physical training, preparation for the event includes seamanship and safety courses, building knowledge and preparation for many different scenarios. In addition, the team of four is practicing sleeping and rowing shifts on the open water that range from 12-72 hours in all sorts of weather conditions.

When asked why he’s pursuing this challenge and supporting these charities, Anthony writes: “Our team agreed that we all deeply felt the impact of having access to mentors, leaders, coaches and peers who pushed us to be the best versions of ourselves through rowing in College and other parts of our lives. We realize that not all kids will have these opportunities, let alone the opportunity to play a sport or be put in an environment outside of their family where they can push themselves and try new things without being further at risk. That is why our mission is to help provide opportunities for youth to pursue better versions of themselves, and we have partnered with charities that provide these opportunities through peer mentorship programs, sports programs, and other means alike.” 

Anthony’s Hebron experience comes full circle with this new opportunity, as he strives to provide the same mentorship and support he received at Hebron through his own challenges and accomplishments. You can learn more about Anthony’s journey here, and we look forward to following his adventure when he and his teammates depart in December.