WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — The No. 6 Wisconsin men's rowing team began culminating their season with a tough battle at the 2021 IRA National Championships, Friday on Mercer Lake.

The first varsity eight recorded the fastest time for the Badgers in the morning timed trials, finishing with 5:34.872. Although, tough competition caused them to take 11th place, only eight seconds behind Washington's first place finish of 5:26.416. 

The second varsity eight took 12th place in their trial with a time of 5:58.495, the second fastest of the morning for Wisconsin.  

The third varsity eight and varsity four both finished their trials in eighth place, the Badgers' best places of the morning. The third varsity eight clocked 6:24.710, while the varsity four finished in 7:06.569. 

During the afternoon semifinals, the varsity eight qualified for the B finals on Saturday, finishing fourth with a time of 6:43.806. The second varsity eight also grabbed fourth place in their race and a B finals spot, finishing with a time of 6:48.656. 

The third varsity eight placed third with a time of 6:47.820, putting them in the B finals. Lastly, the varsity four race was canceled due to lake conditions, making the timed trials results the determinant for the finals. The Badgers missed out on the A finals by one-tenth of a second. 

Straight from the Lake
Head Coach Chris Clark

On Time Trials: 
"You can tell we're packed with a bunch of guys that haven't raced at a high level. More experienced guys get it how hard you have to go and you're running the entire way on the edge of out of controlled. Our guys were too controlled and that cost us quite a few seconds. I would have been thrilled by this performance in 2019 but we have higher hopes now. I'm sure they'll get back after it, but we'll see if we can at least move up some in the next race and the finals tomorrow."

On Semifinals:
"We got after it this afternoon during the next round, but it was ugly. The conditions were terrible, they really were. The guys were almost laughing afterwards just how miserable it was, but they really got after it. We're excited about tomorrow though which will be for places 7-12. The second varsity had a much better race and so did the third varsity.

"The enthusiasm and attitude of the guys is exceptional, they are undeterred. Not only do we take rowers and make rowers in college, but normally the guys that are in the first eight have a lot of experience, but ours are just glorified freshmen. You can tell by handling the rougher water but man are they ready to go. It's exciting for next year getting every single person back."
 

IRA National Championships 
May 28, 2021 
West Windsor, New Jersey
Mercer Lake
2,000 meters

Varsity Eight
Semifinals (Top 2 to Grand Final, 3-4 to Petite Final, rest to Third-Level Final)
1. Dartmouth, 6:29.315 ; 2. Syracuse, 6:33.000 … 4. Wisconsin, 6:43.806

Time Trial
1. Washington, 5:26.416 ; 2. Dartmouth, 5:27.476 … 11. Wisconsin, 5:34.872
Wisconsin Lineup: Coxswain James Catalano, Adam Wehking, Dylan Green, Edward Brody, Breck Duncan, Garrison Waugh, Joseph Cleary, Isaac Krahn, Jack Hendrickson

Second Varsity Eight
Semifinal (Top 2 to Grand Final, 3-4 to Petite Final, rest to Third-Level Final)
1. Washington, 6:28.115 ; 2. Princeton, 6:38.659 … 4. Wisconsin, 6:48.656

Time Trial
1. Washington, 5:33.779 ; 2. California, 5:38.383 … 12. Wisconsin, 5:58.495
Wisconsin Lineup: Coxswain David Espino, Josh Wehking, Matthew Bernard, Sebastian Murrell, Lorenzo Miller, Olin Frederiks, Michael Horan, Michael Horan, John Young, Matthew Palmer

Third Varsity Eight
Semifinal (Top 2 to Grand Final, 3-4 to Petite Final, rest to Third-Level Final)
1. California, 6:28.009 ; 2. Northeastern, 6:33.860 ; 3. Wisconsin, 6:47.820

Time Trial
1. Washington, 6:02.469 ; 2. California, 6:09.949 … 8. Wisconsin, 6:24.710
Wisconsin Lineup: Coxswain Connor Slawin, Carson McFarland, William Russell, Aidan Schmidt, Joshua Barth, Samuel Crowley, Henry Dern, Jeremy Falstad, Alex Marett

Varsity Four
Semifinal (Top 2 to Grand Final, 3-4 to Petite Final, rest to Third-Level Final)
Canceled

Time Trial
1. Washington, 6:39.226 ; 2. California, 6:45.867 … 8. Wisconsin, 7:06.569
Wisconsin Lineup: Coxswain Jonah Rane, Matthew Marcou, Joseph French, Michael Santry, Matthew King