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Bears Prepare For IRA Championships

Jun 1, 2022
The Cal men's rowing team will attempt to capture its 18th championship this weekend at Mercer Lake in New Jersey.

BERKELEY – The biggest race of the year is here. The Cal men's rowing team takes on the best of the best at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship Regatta this Friday through Sunday at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. The Golden Bears are looking to win their 18th championship – the first since 2016.

"Everything we've done continues to build well towards the weekend," said head coach Scott Frandsen when discussing the significance of this weekend. "The Varsity 8+ has maintained its consistency and the crew is just really ready to get to Friday and get to racing. We have had the usual ups and downs of training, but we are excited about the races."

Last time out, the Bears took home the team Pac-12 Championship as well as titles in the varsity 8+, second varsity 8+, varsity 4+, and freshman 8+. Cal's depth will be on display again this weekend as they compete for the Varsity Cup Challenge presented to the winner of the Varsity 8+ race and the Ten Eyck Trophy which is awarded to the program with the most overall points.

Cal will be sending four boats to Mercer Lake, three eights, and the varsity four.

"The depth of the squad is really solid and we are looking forward to racing all boats," added Frandsen. "The depth down the third and fourth eighth is probably the best we have ever had and the crews are just looking forward to putting it all on the line and race for a national championship."

The 2022 IRA Championships will return to the traditional three-day format for the eights, with Friday serving as heats and repechages races, semifinals on Saturday, and finals on Sunday. There is a slight tweak to the schedule in that the grand finals for the varsity 4+ will take place on Saturday, with both the time trials and semifinals taking place on Friday.

Friday, June 3 (Heats and Time Trials)
5:10 a.m. – Varsity 8+ heat 1
lanes 1-5: Penn, Northeastern, California, Syracuse, Drexel, Santa Clara
6:10 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ heat 1
lanes 1-5: Oregon State, Syracuse, California, Boston University, Drexel
7:20 a.m. – Third Varsity 8+ heat 3
lanes 1-6: Oregon State, Cornell, California, Brown, Boston University, Temple
8:20 a.m. – Varsity 4+, time trial 
10:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. – V8+, 2V8+ & 3V8+ repechages
12:30, 12:40 and 12:50 p.m. – V4+ A/B/C semifinals (based on time trials)
 
Saturday, June 4 (Eights A/B semifinals; Four grand final)
5:40 a.m. and 5:50 a.m. – Varsity 8+ A/B semifinals
6:00 a.m. and 6:10 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ A/B semifinals
6:20 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. – Third Varsity 8+ A/B semifinals
8:30 a.m. – Varsity 4+ grand final
 
Sunday, June 5 (Eights grand finals)
6:30 a.m. – Third Varsity 8+ grand final
7:00 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ grand final
7:50 a.m. – Varsity 8+ grand final
 
Follow Along
The 2022 IRA has will be streamed live on a YouTube Channel. You can find that channel by clicking here. Live results can be accessed here.
 
STAY CONNECTED
For complete coverage of Cal men's rowing, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalMRowing), Instagram (@CalMRowing), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalMRowing).