WEST WINDSOR, N.J. -- The Bates men's rowing team took fifth place out of eight schools in the D3 point standings at the 2024 IRA National Championship Regatta, which wrapped up for the Bobcats Saturday at Mercer Lake. 

"I'm really proud of these guys," head coach Peter Steenstra said. "They trusted the process and were committed to each other and to the training all year. The goal was to qualify for the championship regatta and perform at our very best, and there's no question that's just what they did."

Bates competed in three races on Saturday, two of which counted in the D3 points standings. The second varsity eight outraced Wesleyan and Ithaca to take fourth place in their final with a time of 5:59.707, just under two seconds back of third-place Williams (5:57.944). Tufts won the race in 5:55.100. 

In the first varsity eight grand final, which determined the D3 national champion, the Bobcats finished in fifth place with a time of 5:50.717, ahead of the Coast Guard Academy, and just over three seconds back of fourth-place Trinity (5:47.557). Wesleyan won the race, capturing the national championship with a time of 5:41.530. 

Combined, the two Bates crews scored 38 points, finishing ahead of Ithaca, Coast Guard, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Fourth-place Trinity finished with 44 points, while Williams, Tufts, and Wesleyan tallied 48 points apiece.

The Bates men's varsity four competed in the sixth-level final on Saturday, taking third place in 6:49.000, ahead of RIT and less than a second behind runner-up Iona (6:48.230). Trinity won the race in 6:46.557.

The 2024 IRA National Championship is the final event of the year for Bates athletics.

Bates MV8 lineup: Bow: Luke Desmaison; 2: Sean Christiansen; 3: Charlie Berman; 4: Conor McGuckin; 5: Lando Putnam-Bagley; 6: Isaac Levinger; 7: Brendan Kelly; Stroke: George Fauver; c: Izzy Beck

Bates M2V8 lineup: Bow: Riley Young; 2: Ian Van Loo; 3: Jimmy Staller; 4: Nick Hoerle; 5: Oliver Firmenich; 6: Charles Renvyle; 7: Luke Johnson; Stroke: Andrew Frey; c: Darien Chiang

Bates MV4 lineup: Bow: Leo Sullivan; 2: Hugh McCabe; 3: Ben Auerbach; Stroke: Kelly McKaige; c: Micah Shimizu