WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - The Williams men's rowing 1V8 and 2V8 boats won their respective grand final races to claim the top spot in the points trophy standings to take the overall IRA Division III National Championship. The Ephs won the 1V8 race for the second consecutive year and 2023 marked the inaugural Division III IRA Championship for the second varsity eight.
This season marks the second year the IRA has held a Division III race and the first time the Division III competition has featured both the first varsity eight and the second varsity eight. NESCAC schools took the top five spots in the final standings led by the Ephs' 54 points. Wesleyan finished second with 50 points and was followed by Bates in third with 44 points, Trinity in fourth with 42 points, and Tufts in fifth with 36 points.
Friday's racing on Mercer Lake was suspended and eventually canceled in the afternoon due to weather in the area. The forecast forced a schedule change on Saturday with the Division III races going off just after 9 a.m.
In the first varsity grand final, Williams took an early lead in the first 250 meters and slowly extended its advantage over the 2,000-meter course. The Ephs posted a time of 6:32.40 to win the race, now known as the Gary Caldwell Cup after the former Tufts head coach and current IRA Commissioner. Williams owns the distinction of winning both IRA Division III 1V8 races in history (2002 & 2023). Wesleyan was the national runner-up with a time of 6:37.90 while Bates took bronze at 6:37.97. Trinity (6:40.09), Tufts (6:49.18), and WPI (6:50.00) rounded out the 1V8 race.
In the inaugural 2V8 Division III race at the IRA Championships, the Ephs' boat copied the 1V8 crew, taking an early lead and expanding it throughout the 2,000 meters. Williams crossed the finish line in a time of 6:39.93 to win the Norman T. Graf Trophy. Wesleyan was the runner-up for the second straight race with a time of 6:47.93. Trinity placed third to claim the bronze medal with a time of 6:48.95. Bates (6:49.73) was fourth and followed by Tufts (6:51.84), WPI (7:03.66), and St. Lawrence (7:13.73).
