# @harvardlights on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQjE7eyva0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/32746163-harvardlights-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/d2cbbdbf58.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-18T18:05:47.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Harvard Men’s Lightweight Rowing (@harvardlights) — https://gondola.cc/harvardlights

## Caption

Celebrating our departing seniors, we kick off with Alex Tonelli from Calgary, Canada.

Written by Devinder Sarai ‘25:

“As someone who studies Statistics, Alex seemed unperturbed by the odds of walking on to HVL his junior year with no experience. Yet this novice—who soon earned the moniker “Techy T”—made his own path.

Knowing Alex as a fellow Canadian since freshman year, I knew he was serious when he texted me summer 2023 asking what he needed to do to join HVL. I told him to build fitness on the erg and join a local club to learn to row. He did both, and the rest is history.

A true Calgarian, Alex always wears his Calgary Flames hat on the water. It embodies how he trains and races, pushing himself to the limit and often past it in practices—flying too close to the sun—but never relinquishing an opportunity to do it again on the next erg test chasing a pb.

So too is he passionate about music, having been on the bass for well over half of his college career with the prestigious Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. Somehow he managed to keep up that skill while on HVL: with the equally prestigious musical establishment Big Tuesday (I don’t think HRO has ever opened for Yardfest…)

Even in his first year, Alex brought accountability and high standards to whatever boat he was in, perhaps drawing on his experience in another competitive team organization—HCCG. Whatever it was that made him a vocal leader in the boat, it can be said for certain that the 3V and 4V4 wouldn’t be where they are now without the constant intensity and effort he’d bring to every session, never letting the crew slip below the HVL standard without saying something about it.

I can say firsthand that this quality of his saved many a session that otherwise would have spiralled into darkness in a sort of “bystander effect” fashion. That’s what I—and the team—will miss the most about having Alex and what is perhaps the most defining part of his legacy, apart from—of course—stroking the 4+ to the first of the day’s wins at Eastern Sprints.

As Alex starts his career in NYC, his work ethic and commitment to whatever he does will drive success in his work and his life.”
#technelli #goflames 🇮🇹

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## Tags

goflames, technelli

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