WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Colgate's Varsity 8+ proved that the last time was no fluke and posted its second consecutive top-20 result at the IRA National Championship Regatta.

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The Raiders rowed to a 17th-place outcome, which was one position better than their all-time top finish two years ago in Gold River, California. Last year's IRA Regatta was canceled by the Covid Pandemic.

"Our hard work over the past three weeks in preparation for IRA really showed in our program-best result," said Colin Clark. "The success we had last weekend came from a strong showing in the time trial, which set us up to compete in the C level final. As our program is smaller than the crews we compete against, our result is indicative of the high-level training we receive from Coach Sanad and Coach Chacon." 
 
Colgate finished 14th in the morning time trials with a clocking of 5:38.676 to assure the Raiders of no worse than a top-18 result. The unranked Colgate boat surprised many ranked crews despite sporting seven different rowers from the successful showing of two years ago.

"The results were a true demonstration of our increasing depth," Connor Appleyard said. "Not only were we able to have a successful result in the 8 but also in the 4+. The program as a whole is getting much better due to the change in team culture, as well as a commitment to being synonymous with the top schools in the country. We are working harder than in the past and holding ourselves to higher standards than we previously did. This is something that will hopefully continue going forward as we develop our program into one that is regularly at IRAs and producing good results."
 
In the C Final, Colgate finished 17th and beat out Princeton and UC San Diego with a time of 7:29.383 for its best result in program history. The youth of the Raider squad bodes well for future success.

"I think what worked really well for these races was setting goals for ourselves and knowing that we were willing to do whatever it took to accomplish them," said senior coxswain Tali Filstein. "Our goals were to get top-18 in the time trial, where we got 14th, and to beat Williams in the final, which we did. The guys are super hardworking and motivated, so when we know what realistic results we want, they're really able to pull out all the stops to get it."

In the fours, Colgate opened the time trials with a clocking of 7:24.826, good for 17th place. Rain and wind wiped out the semifinal but the Raiders advanced to the C Final and finished in 17th place just like the eights.

"The thing that really helped me was trusting in our coaches and training," said Gus Girardi. "Our coaches want us to win and they did everything they could to prepare us for IRAs. When you have that trust in the coaching staff, your teammates, and your own fitness you can really fly down the course. 

"I think our results at IRAs really show the rapidly increasing strength of Colgate's rowing program. Our coaches have worked hard to bolster the program to where it is today and it is really starting to show."
 
Colgate's combined showing with two boats finishing 17th makes quite the statement against other programs with much more depth of talent. Also noteworthy was the fact that the Colgate crew was half composed of lightweight rowers (under 160 pounds) competing against much bigger squads.
 
Colgate won the Straight Four back in 2004 for the only national gold medal in program history. This year's entry was the Coxed Four.

"These results just highlight the strength that our program has and what's to come," added Filstein. "This is the second time in a row that our program has gotten into the C final at IRAs, so we're showing the rowing world that that's where we belong. Also, the boat is very young with only one rising senior while the rest are to be sophomores or juniors, so having more time to train together as a boat will make us stronger than we've ever been before. It's really exciting!"

Men's Varsity 8+
Crew: 1 Riley Heise, 2 Elliot Duessel, 3 Gian Civitello, 4 Lucca Figlioli, 5 Colin Clark, 6 Thomas Feeney, 7 Noah Barkoff, 8 Andrew Smith.
Cox: Tali Filstein.
Heat Results: Colgate finished 14th with a 5:38.676 result. 
Final Results: Colgate placed 17th with a time of 7:29.383. The Raiders edged Princeton and UC San Diego.

Men's Junior Varsity 4+
Crew: 1 Harrison Zeigler, 2 August Girardi, 3 Henry Bartol, 4 Connor Appleyard
Cox: Garrett Kalter
Heat Results: Colgate opened with a 7:24.826 for 17th place.
Final Results: Rain and wind canceled the semifinal, to finish in 17th place.