.png)
Orange Selected as Automatic Qualifier for IRA Championship
5/15/2018 9:19:00 PM | Men's Rowing
Syracuse, N.Y. – Following last weekend's seventh-place finish at the EARC Eastern Sprints, the Syracuse University men's rowing team has earned an automatic qualifier bid to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship. It is the third-consecutive year the Orange have been selected as an automatic qualifier. Championship action is set to get underway at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., June 1-3.
"It's always nice to get the AQ," head coach Dave Reischman said. "I think all four of our boats that raced at Eastern Sprints had really good rows. It's a group that loves to go out and compete and it was a successful weekend for us. I think the most important thing is that the guys performed at a level they are capable of and they have set themselves up to have a good IRA. That is what I'm most excited about."
"Obviously it's a big honor to be an automatic qualifier," senior coxswain Dominic Santora said. "We came in as freshmen and we received an at large bid. To be an AQ has been a big accomplishment the last two years. That's the standard we feel Syracuse should have [automatic qualifying bids]."
Last season, Syracuse finished eighth at the IRA Championship Regatta while the first varsity eight crew placed second in the petite final. It marked the Orange's best finish in the varsity eight competition since placing fifth in 2012 while it was the sixth top-10 finish under head coach Dave Reischman.
"Last year we had two boats with the opportunity to finish in the top-10," added Santora. "The varsity eight did. This year, our goal is to have all three boats in the top-10 but we don't want to look too far ahead. It's going to be hard, IRAs is difficult with the heats. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw but even with that factor we feel we have the depth and the talent to take care of business. If each boat puts down their best piece, we are definitely capable of being a top-10 team in the country."
Syracuse has won five IRA Championships with its first being in 1904.
View the complete list of IRA qualifying teams here.
"It's always nice to get the AQ," head coach Dave Reischman said. "I think all four of our boats that raced at Eastern Sprints had really good rows. It's a group that loves to go out and compete and it was a successful weekend for us. I think the most important thing is that the guys performed at a level they are capable of and they have set themselves up to have a good IRA. That is what I'm most excited about."
"Obviously it's a big honor to be an automatic qualifier," senior coxswain Dominic Santora said. "We came in as freshmen and we received an at large bid. To be an AQ has been a big accomplishment the last two years. That's the standard we feel Syracuse should have [automatic qualifying bids]."
Last season, Syracuse finished eighth at the IRA Championship Regatta while the first varsity eight crew placed second in the petite final. It marked the Orange's best finish in the varsity eight competition since placing fifth in 2012 while it was the sixth top-10 finish under head coach Dave Reischman.
"Last year we had two boats with the opportunity to finish in the top-10," added Santora. "The varsity eight did. This year, our goal is to have all three boats in the top-10 but we don't want to look too far ahead. It's going to be hard, IRAs is difficult with the heats. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw but even with that factor we feel we have the depth and the talent to take care of business. If each boat puts down their best piece, we are definitely capable of being a top-10 team in the country."
Syracuse has won five IRA Championships with its first being in 1904.
View the complete list of IRA qualifying teams here.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Rowing
13th Annual Evening at Ten Eyck Recap
Thursday, October 09
2025 Soladay Award Winners
Thursday, May 01
Syracuse 8 Courage Award | Benjamin Campbell-Reide
Tuesday, April 29
Stevie Chuck '25 Giving Day Broadcast
Thursday, April 03
