Top: Justin Best rows for Team USA. Bottom: Kat Roche referees a rugby match.

James Condelles ‘26

STAFF WRITER

The Olympic flag was lowered after 16 days of intense competition in Paris, concluding the 2024 Olympic Games, which saw the United States win 126 total medals. Two Unionville alumni participated in the Olympics this summer: Justin Best won gold in rowing, and Kat Roche was chosen as a rugby referee.

Before they participated in the Olympics, Best and Roche both attended middle and high school at Unionville. Best found his passion for rowing when a concussion he suffered playing middle school football caused him to rethink playing sports. His parents, inspired by the Harvard rowing team, encouraged him to start rowing. Best rowed for the Newport Rowing Club and Unionville, where he helped petition our school board to add rowing as a sport at the High School.

On Best’s dedication, Unionville Crew coach Chris Tolsdorf says, “He has the rare ability to just keep going, to keep working, to be disciplined in his approach to the goals that he has.” Best quickly grew as an athlete, winning a silver medal as a part of the eight-man team at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships. Best then attended Drexel University, where he rowed for the Drexel Dragons, winning the Dad Vail Regatta all four years. He also studied engineering and business and won two medals for the US National squad in 2018 and 2019. After graduating, he worked as an analyst for an investment bank before competing in his first Olympics in 2020, where he placed fourth in the Tokyo Olympics, unfortunately missing the podium by just a tenth of a second. His sights were now set on Paris.

This summer, Best had the chance to compete for gold in a huge race: the men’s four. The U.S. had the lead for much of the race, but with 600 meters to go, New Zealand shot forward, drawing even with the US crew. In response, the US team cranked up their speed to an impressive 45 strokes per minute, beating New Zealand by 0.85 seconds. This marked the first time since 1960 that a US team had won this event.

When asked about what sets Best apart from other rowers, Coach Tolsdorf explained that, “Some days are terrible, some days you don't want to be there, some days you question if it is worth it, but his discipline gets him through those days. That is not something many people have the ability to do."

Like Justin Best, Kat Roche has been making history for years. She was the third American to officiate a six nations match and, in 2021 became the first woman lead referee for Major League Rugby. In May, she was invited to the Olympics as a member of the rugby refereequad, selected from 23 officials across 16 countries. Roche and Cisco Lopez made history as the first ever Americans to officiate Rugby at the Olympic Games. The Women’s competition kicked off on July 28, with Roche serving as the center referee for the gold medal match between New Zealand and Canada, which New Zealand won 19-12. Roche also officiates in MLR games and she continues to rise up the ranks of officiating.