Head of the Housatonic 2024 – Men’s IRA/Non-IRA Eight

IRA Eight

The marquee event for collegiate men will be the IRA Eights (HVA Cup), starting down the course at 10:25 a.m. Eyes will be on Yale and Brown, two top-shelf Division I heavyweight programs that were neck and neck last spring at the 1V through 5V levels. After Brown’s varsity grabbed an improbable gold at the Eastern Sprints back in May, they missed out on the grand final altogether at the IRA in June, while Yale managed to qualify and finish fifth overall. It is hard to see the Bulldogs giving up the HVA Cup at home in what promises to be some brilliant racing.

Three Yale lightweight crews are also entered in the IRA Eights and will be looking to set the tone for the 2024-25 season after a disappointing campaign last year that saw the Bulldogs finish last in both the 1V and 2V eights at the IRA.

At the Division III level, two perennial IRA contenders, Williams College and Trinity College, will test their speed against Division I heavyweight and lightweight crews. Rounding out the field are Columbia University’s heavyweights, who have entered two eights in the event, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy, whose skull-and-crossbones blade insignia certainly wins the aesthetic prize at the regatta.

Non-IRA Eight

The Non-IRA Men’s 8 category at the Head of the Housatonic promises to be an exciting season opener for many East Coast Division III colleges. With only 15 entries, the competition should be fierce, especially with several colleges entering multiple crews to race down the 4,320-meter course along the Head of Connecticut. Let’s take a closer look at our top four entrants. 

Fordham University

Hailing from the Bronx, New York, this club crew could be a dark horse in the race. Under the new leadership of Jamie Copus, a well-known figure in UK elite rowing with multiple Henley medals and World Rowing Championship appearances, Fordham is entering two boats. It will be interesting to see how Copus develops the program, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they manage to upset some higher-ranked colleges. 

Trinity College

With three crews entered, Trinity College makes up a significant portion of the field, improving their odds. This accomplished program has proven itself before, with medals at the IRA National Championship Regatta in the D3 Varsity eight category in 2023 and a solid tenth-placed finish at the 2023 Head of the Charles in the Club eight. Expect them to be a major force in the competition. 

Williams College

Another strong Division III program, Williams College comes from a small town in western Massachusetts and competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). This crew will be eager for redemption after finishing just 0.2 seconds behind Wesleyan in the 2023 Division III National Championships. They are a key contender for the top spot and a strong competitor in the race for the Directors’ Cup. 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy rounds out our list of top entrants. They had an impressive season last year, placing well in the club eight at the Head of the Charles and securing sixth place at the IRA National Championship Regatta on Mercer Lake, New Jersey. With their strong performances in 2023, they are expected to be in the mix again.

Prediction

This year’s Director’s Cup is tough to call, with strong competition across the board. All the highlighted crews have the potential to bring home the trophy, but if I had to make a prediction, Trinity College stands out as the team to beat. Their last year’s results and consistent performances in major regattas give them the edge. I expect Williams College to be close behind, pushing Trinity hard, but perhaps not enough to dethrone them. 

As for the race between the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Fordham, it’s a bit of a toss-up. While I’m hopeful that Fordham, under the new leadership of Jamie Copus, will deliver impressive results, their club program status might leave them at a disadvantage against the more established varsity program at Coast Guard. I’d give the Coast Guard a slight advantage based on recent form, but Fordham could surprise us if they rise to the occasion.

About The Author