Cooper LeBlanc ‘18 is a talented, tri-varsity captain committed to row at Northeastern University. In the fall, he was captain of the Kent cross country team, helping secure several high ranking positions for the team. This term, he is captain of the swimming team, which is also having a strong season thus far. In the spring, he will also be captain of the crew team, hopefully leading the boys to  back-to-back NEIRA wins. While being a vital member of many athletic teams, he is also a member of the Senior Council, the Kent Safety Committee, and a tour guide.

LeBlanc has been running cross country since the fall of his sophomore year and has been an incredible asset to Coach Sokolnicki ever since. In the recent fall season, he led the team in their wins over Trinity Pawling, Berkshire, Salisbury and Millbrook. “Cross country has been paramount to my athletic experience at Kent,” says LeBlanc, “The fitness I gain from running in the fall transfers over to swimming and crew.”

He has been swimming for far longer than he has been running, over six years in fact. And time after time, he has shown his experience in his races: finishing consistently at the top end of the team and contributing to strong New England finishes.

LeBlanc has also had a very successful experience with Kent’s crew team, participating in Kent’s gold-winning boat at NEIRA two years in a row. LeBlanc also had the opportunity to sit in the stroke seat at the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup Men’s 8 at the Henley Royal Regatta this past summer in England, a competition some call the “pinnacle” of the sport.

Leblanc’s high school rowing achievements has led him to Northeastern University, a top tier college with an equally impressive collegiate rowing program and the next step in his education and competitive rowing career. LeBlanc notes that Kent has prepared him for top level collegiate athletics and confesses that he was not the athlete he is now before coming to Kent. “Without Kent I would not know how to row,” comments LeBlanc.