GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- The Bates men's rowing team officially received an at-large bid to the 2026 IRA National Championship Regatta on Tuesday, as the Bobcats will send two eights and a four to California at the end of the month to compete on the biggest stage of collegiate rowing.

The 123rd running of the IRA National Championship Regatta takes place May 29-31 at Lake Natoma, with the "D3 races" involving Bates on the 29th and 30th.

It will be a NESCAC reunion of sorts, as six of the eight teams competing will be from Bates' conference. The Bobcats are joined by NESCAC schools Wesleyan, Trinity, Williams, Tufts, and Colby. Meanwhile, Ithaca College and Marietta College also earned spots in the field. 

Bates received a bid thanks in large part to the first varsity eight boat taking fifth in their grand final at Sunday's National Invitational Rowing Championship.

This is the sixth straight year and the seventh time overall that Bates has qualified for IRAs. Their best finish to date is a third-place showing in 2023.