WORCESTER, Mass. – The Wesleyan men's crew team saw the varsity 8 boat turn in another outstanding performance, placing third in the grand finale (2
nd-fastest among D3 boats) of the National Invitational Rowing Championship to secure a qualifying spot in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National D3 Championship in June.
Finishing behind only No. 1 ranked Williams and Holy Cross (D1 boat) in the grand final, Wesleyan landed the highest finishing place at a national invitational regatta since 1987 when the Cardinals placed second in the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.
"As we wrap up the regularly scheduled events for the year at the NIRC, the team remained focused and resolute," said Wesleyan head coach
Phil Carney. "With outstanding performances across all four crews, our varsity crew not only earned another bronze medal, but qualified our top two crews for the IRA National Division III Championship in June. We are honored by our selection to this event, and look forward to the chance to continue to train and grow together as a team."
On Saturday at Lake Quinsigamond, the Cardinals advanced to the grand final with a win in heat 3, racing to a time of 5:53.82. Later in the day, Wesleyan competed against some of the best boats in the nation and claimed third place with a time of 5:51.09. That result lands Wesleyan the second qualifying spot, along with Williams, for the national championship regatta in three weeks.
In other action on the day, Wesleyan's 2
nd varsity 8 boat raced to a fourth-place finish in the grand final, crossing the line in 6:02.41. The Cardinals' 3
rd varsity 8 boat also took fourth place in the grand final, racing to a time of 6:13.75. Wesleyan's 4
th varsity 8 captured fifth with a time of 6:21.56.
This will be the Cardinals' first time competing in the IRA National D3 Championship Regatta which is in only its second season of existence.
Lineups:
Varsity 8 -
Asher Israel '26 (coxswain),
Joe Kagan '23,
Paul Kiyonaga '25,
Oliver Diamond '23,
Emmett Nunes '23,
Nelson Bellows '26,
Eli Smirin '26,
Brett Beaman '26,
Pierce Buckner-Wolfson '26
2nd Varsity 8 -
Leo Rosenblum '25 (coxswain), Chris Saade '25,
Hugo Harington '25,
Max Ewing '24, Eli Koiistra '25,
Kiran Kling '24,
Freddie Bell '25,
Oliver Saffery '23,
Cory Reavy '26
3rd Varsity 8 -
Meg Rubenstein '25 (coxswain),
Andrew Steinert '25,
Nate Newcomer '25,
Nader Moghadam '26,
Jack Cornog '26,
Josh Silbert '26,
Teddy Manning '25,
Otis Harrison '26,
Morgan Shatzman '25
4th Varsity 8 -
Imogen Frazier '25 (coxswain),
Nick Jarrett '25,
Alex Glotzer '25,
Nick Dillon '23,
Colin Flynn '26,
Finn Brown '23,
Ro Barrett '26,
Austin Halsey '26,
Will Gannon '25
