Rowing titles: 1975 IRA Champions
August 18, 2008 | Men's Rowing
In honor of the Wisconsin men's varsity eight winning the 2008 Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championship, we are taking a look back at all of the Wisconsin men's rowing titles. Today we take a look back at the 1975 IRA champions.
Historically speaking, men's rowing is an interesting beast. There have been different attempts over the years to determine a 'true' varsity eight national champion. There appear to be two successful stretches in determining an official national champion to date. The first came in the form of the National Collegiate Rowing Championships, which took place from 1983-96 in Cincinnati. The second success is the current format in place since 2002 at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships. Other than these two stretches, IRA Regatta conflicts with the Harvard-Yale race and various other circumstances prevented any kind of official championship. With all that in mind, Wisconsin can comfortably claim three official national championships and an additional six unofficial titles. The Badgers can argue for one more title, depending on how you spin things. Therefore, Wisconsin stakes its claim to three official national championships, and a total of either nine or 10 national championships.
Badgers Take IRA Championship for Third Consecutive Year
Although the Wisconsin men's varsity eight won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in 1973 and 1974, all bets were on MIT in the 1975 regatta in Syracuse, N.Y.. At the Eastern Sprints just three weeks earlier, MIT placed second, 4.5 seconds ahead of the Badgers' third-place finish. Many thought they would do it again.
The Badgers, however, ignored the talk. Three of the eight-member boat only knew the taste of gold. Seniors Jim Dyreby, Robert Espeseth, Jr., and Lou Schueller were members of the 1972 freshman eight IRA champions, the 1973 varsity eight title winners and the 1974 varsity eight championship boat. They would not let M.I.T. steal their fourth and final IRA title.
On the calm waters of Lake Onondaga on May, 31st, the Badgers secured their third consecutive varsity eight title, posting a time of 6:08.2, three seconds ahead of second place M.I.T. Northeastern, Cornell and Rutgers rounded out the top five boats. Once again missing was Harvard. Harvard had won the Eastern Sprints on May 11th eight seconds ahead of the Badgers and 3.5 seconds ahead of MIT.
At the time, the Badgers were the third college team to win top honors three years in a row since the regatta had moved to Syracuse in 1952.
Making up Wisconsin's IRA title-winning varsity eight were sophomore coxswain Greg Askins (Madison, Wis.), senior Jim Dyreby (Waupaca, Wis.), sophomore Fred Robertson (Mondovi, Wis.), senior Robert Espeseth, Jr., (Champaign, Ill.), senior Lou Schueller (Milwaukee), sophomore John Mercier (Madison, Wis.), senior Jim Kirsh (Beaver Dam, Wis.), sophomore Tom Schuchardt (Monona, Wis.) and senior Eric Aserlind (Madison, Wis.). Dyreby would also win the 1975 Big Ten Medal of Honor.
Two other Wisconsin crews won national titles in 1975, including the men's varsity four. The UW women's rowers also won their first national title in the varsity eight.
Read more about the 1975 race by clicking the pdf, with the 1975 team roster, results and clippings, below.
Also check out the small photo gallery from 1975.
Finally, click here for the Wisconsin Rowing History Web site's Comprehensive take on the 1975 season.
