Author:
SpuytenDuyvil76 (Diffrnt strokes)
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Date Posted: 10:00:39 05/20/26 Wed
The women rowers have the NCAAs.
The heavyweight men, and more recently, the lightweight men and women, have the IRAs (Intercollegiate Rowing Association, founded 1895).
The NCAA declares a championship based on points derived from finishes amongst the 1st and 2nd Varsity 8, and the V 4. The women's programs are organized and race during the season with this format in mind.
The IRA declares national champ based on a single race: the winner of the Varsity 8 Grand Final. That winning boat, and by association, its program, is national champion. There is also a total points trophy for the program that amasses the most of those, based on finishing positions in the finals.
BTW: the current IRA champ, U of Washington, continues a recent trend with but one U.S. national among the crew, including cox. (cox: Australia., stroke: U.S., 7: Ger, 6: Ita, 5: Lith, 4: NZ, 3: UK, 2: NZ, bow: NZ.)
There was some discussion a few years ago regarding merging the two organizations, or, NCAA acquiring the IRA. Thankfully, that talk seems to have died down. Among the issues apparently in contention was the NCAA prohibition of gambling by student-athuletes (stop me from laughing till I cry) as the IRA, indeed men's rowing tradition, has the loser handing his shirt to the victor, a practice known as shirt betting.
Let the regattas proceed!
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