HADLEY, Mass. -- The Bates men's rowing team had major representation as the New England Small College Athletic Conference named its all-conference rowing teams on Tuesday, with five Bobcats earning honors, including four seniors.

The 10-member squads are comprised of individuals from the league's eight teams and based on each team's finish at the NESCAC Championship held on May 8 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

Senior captain Steven Sparks (Simsbury, Conn.) picked up the second All-NESCAC honor of his career after being a second team selection in 2021. This time, Sparks earns first team recognition, along with fellow seniors Espen Wheeler (Paradis, Norway) and Robert Sobolewski (Oakton, Va.). 

Meanwhile, senior Thomas Monahan (Louisville, Colo.) and junior first varsity eight coxswain Aidan Braithwaite (Milton, Mass.) earned second team All-NESCAC honors. 

The Bates men's first varsity eight placed fourth out of six crews in the grand final with a time of 6:01.306 at the National Invitational Rowing Championships. The Bobcats finished ahead of perennial power Hobart (6:01.581) and, crucially, NESCAC foe Tufts (6:02.521). Williams won the race in 5:56.171 but the Bobcats earned one of the NESCAC's two automatic bids to the IRA National Championship regatta by placing second in the conference. MIT and Marist finished second and third in the 1V grand final respectively. 

The Bobcats compete at IRAs June 3-4 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey.