CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Bates men's first varsity eight rolled to victory in their heat Friday morning at the IRA National Championship, setting up an exciting grand final this Saturday and a chance at a national title for the Bobcats. 

Led by sophomore coxswain Darien Chiang (Quincy, Mass.) and junior stroke seat Luke Desmaison (New York City), the Bobcats raced to the finish in 5:49.290, leading fellow NESCAC program Tufts wire-to-wire, as the Jumbos took second in 5:53.940. Colby finished third in 6:00.370 and Marietta was last in 6:01.020.

This sets up an All-NESCAC grand final on Saturday of Williams, Tufts, Trinity, Bates, Wesleyan, and Colby. The Bantams of Trinity are the Bobcats' target, as Bates finished runner-up this year in the conference to them. The race gets underway at 4:20 p.m. and the winner will receive "The Caldwell Cup", which has been won twice by Williams and once by Wesleyan since the D3 race's inception in 2022.

Elsewhere, it was a tough heat for the second varsity eight, as the Bobcats finished fourth with a time of 6:06.880. That time would have been good for second place in the other D3 second varsity eight heat, but as it is, the Bobcats are headed to the petite final on Saturday where they will race Marietta at 3:30 p.m.

"The men's 2V had a disappointing race today, but the guys are really coming together and they're looking forward to having a solid final in the petite tomorrow," head coach Peter Steenstra said. "And the men's varsity eight really showed some strength and speed and poise winning their heat. The guys are looking forward to having a barnburner of a grand final tomorrow to put a true exclamation point on the end of this season!"

All IRA schools can enter a four in the regatta, and the Bobcats entered one this year, turning in some strong results.

After a time trial, the varsity four held off a strong challenge from Iona to win their "FG" semifinal in 6:45.450. The Gaels took runner-up in 6:45.700 while Mercyhurst was third in 6:52.200 and Colby last in 7:04.040.

The Bates varsity four now heads to Saturday's sixth-level final, which gets underway at 2:08 p.m. and features Marietta, Iona, Catholic, Bates, Georgetown, and Mercyhurst.

Bates MV8 lineup: Bow: Erik Lindholm; 2: Sean Christiansen; 3: Luke Johnson; 4: Ben Auerbach; 5: Oliver Firmenich; 6: Charles Renvyle; 7: George Fauver; Stroke: Luke Desmaison; c: Darien Chiang

Bates M2V8 lineup: Bow: Thomas Pacinda; 2: John Cleary; 3: Kelly McKaige; 4: Nicholas Hoerle; 5: Leo Sullivan; 6: Peter Gratwick; 7: Benji Richards; Stroke: Ian Van Loo; c: Izzy Beck

Bates MV4 lineup: Bow: Sam Perozek; 2: Alex Appleton; 3: Wiley Anderson; 4: Jimmy Staller ; c: Micah Shimizu