There are so many opportunities that I can get here that I am not able to get anywhere else.
For nearly a decade, Coach Roman Horoszewski P’16 ’18 was the heart of Peddie’s boys novice rowing program. He was more than a coach. Known as “Coach H” by students, he was a mentor, a teacher and a steady presence who helped students find their place at Peddie, building confidence and community through patience, encouragement and care. His impact extended far beyond the water.
During Coach H’s tenure, Peddie Boys Rowing reached several milestones. In 2017, Peddie won the Brown Cup for the first time since 2009, with both the boys 1V and 2V crews defeating Lawrenceville. In 2018, the boys won their first Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Championship, claiming the points title with a key win over Lawrenceville in the 1V race. The following year, they earned a medal in the Senior Four event at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. These achievements were built on the foundation Coach H laid through fundamentals, teamwork and integrity.
“He was our guide, and his legacy will stay in our hearts forever.”
To honor his legacy, Oliver Crane ’17 and Zen Rizzuto-Flancbaum ’19 joined forces with fellow alumni to raise funds for a racing shell bearing his name. On April 11, 2026, Peddie Rowing and the broader Peddie community gathered at Caspersen Rowing Center for the christening of a new Coach H shell, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the sport and the young people he coached. “Like so many rowers, Coach H was my first true mentor at Peddie.” Crane explained, “He showed me firsthand what determination and brotherhood meant, and I feel immense gratitude for the journey he started me on and the enduring impact it has had on my life.”
What began as a campaign to fund a racing shell soon expanded into a larger initiative: the idea to create an endowed fund that will carry Coach H’s legacy forward for generations to come. Through this fund, future rowers will benefit from the same spirit of encouragement, mentorship and belonging that defined Coach H’s time at Peddie. Rizzuto-Flancbaum affirms, “Coach H was the epitome of a rower and a true gentleman. He taught me — and so many others — to persevere. He was our guide, and his legacy will stay in our hearts forever.”