The varsity eight race during the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship in Mercer Lake, New Jersey.
For the second straight year, the Syracuse University men’s rowing varsity eight earned a fifth-place finish in the Grand Final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship, making it the third year in a row the Orange have finished in the top five. Meanwhile, the women’s rowing team finished 13th at the 2023 NCAA Championship, tying for the third-best team finish in program history.
Men’s Team Makes Waves
The men’s crew finished eighth overall in the Ten Eyck Trophy standings, awarded to the team with the most combined team points at the IRA Championship.
“It was a great season; the guys won a lot of boat races. I think they had a lot of people in their corner along the way and I am pretty pleased with how things ended up,” men’s head coach Dave Reischman says.
The varsity eight crew and head coach Dave Reischman before the race.
Syracuse is one of four schools to have its varsity eight in the Grand Final in each of the last three seasons. California defended its title, repeating as national champions.
It was a great season; the guys won a lot of boat races. I think they had a lot of people in their corner along the way and I am pretty pleased with how things ended up.
Dave Reischman
“The last thing I told them before they launched was ‘no regrets,’ and they got off the water and they said that was our A game and it was the best we had,” Reischman says.
Lachlan Doust ’24 celebrates varsity eight’s fifth-place finish in the Grand Final at the IRA National Championship.
All three varsity eight boats finished in the top 10. The second varsity eight finished third in the Petite Final, to place ninth overall and marking the second-straight season the Orange placed top-10, while the third varsity eight earned second in the Petite Final, to place eighth overall.
Syracuse will head to the Henley Royal Regatta later this month with two crews to represent Syracuse University on the international stage.
The women’s rowing team tied for the third-best team finish in program history.
Women’s Team Positioned at the Podium
The Syracuse women’s rowing team also had a strong season, finishing 13th at the 2023 NCAA Championship, including an eighth-place performance from the varsity eight, a 13th-place finish by the varsity four and a 17th-place result for the second varsity eight. It ties for the third-best team finish in program history.
The Orange varsity eight won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, marking the first time in program history a varsity eight boat has won an ACC title. ACC honors poured in for the Orange, including the varsity eight securing 2023 ACC Crew of the Year and freshman Ellie-Kate Hutchinson winning ACC Newcomer of the Year.
“The national championship regatta showcases team depth,” says women’s head coach Luke McGee, who was named the 2023 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Regional Co-Coach of the Year.
For the first time in program history, the women’s rowing program will compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.
The national championship regatta showcases team depth.
Luke McGee
Every Syracuse boat earned a position on the podium at the ACC Championship, including gold for the varsity eight, silver for the third varsity eight, and bronze for the second varsity eight, varsity four and second varsity four, marking the second time in three years the Orange have had every boat medal. Annika Maxson G’23 and Kamile Kralikaite ’24 earned All-ACC First Team honors, while coxswain Hannah Murphy ’23 received All-ACC Second Team recognition.
For the first time in program history, the women’s rowing program will compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Syracuse will have an eight with coxswain and a four without coxswain.
