The IRA Varsity Four is arguably the most surprising race at the regatta. A mix of big programs’ Fourth Varsities and smaller programs’ top boats it often produces wildly varying results, with teams ranging from California Berkeley to the Florida Institute of Technology succeeding in recent years.
University of Washington
PAC 12 Champions UW enter the race as favourites not just because of their speed but because of their experience as well. Having proven their quality on the West Coast, their lineup has stayed relatively similar throughout the season providing a significant advantage when many of the competing fours are only put together in the weeks before the regatta. Stroked by former US Junior team trialist Connor Shoup, the boat is distinctive for its eight-inch height difference between 3-seat Finn Griskauskas and 2-seat Alex Gonin, who has represented Canada at both Junior and U-23 World Championships. A mixture of experience and muscle, the boys in the boat will be hoping that bowseat and Washington native Luke Collins will be crossing the line first come Saturday.
Brown
Based on the Brown Fourth Varsity’s success at Sprints a week ago they currently stand out as one of the favourites for the event. Having finished second to a strong Yale boat by about six seats, they will surely be encouraged by Yale’s absence in the event at IRAs. Although their lineup is yet to be announced, it could boast huge amounts of international experience with rowers like Croat Gordan Milovac, or Dutchman Mees du Croo de Jongh who raced in the Third Varsity here last year.
Dartmouth
After finishing third at Sprints last week and in this event last year, the Big Green will be looking to go two better this year to achieve their first gold at IRAs in several decades. Former U-19 German national team Tom Thomas makes his second appearance in this event, sitting in the stroke seat. Sat behind him is Old Alleynian Francesco Dembinksi (who won the Fifth Varsity event at Sprints last week), Oregon native Jasper Gleeson, and Will Delaney from Down Under. Dartmouth’s lower boats performed exceptionally well last week, and combined with their experience in the event and apparent shakeup selection they will be entering the event with high hopes of a medal.
Florida Institute of Technology
FIT have made a habit of succeeding in coxed four events recently, with strong finishes in the Championship Four event at the Charles in each year since Covid and missing out on a medal here by only a second last year. The Panthers finished third in the petite final of the Dad Vails Varsity Eights earlier this month but considering their history I expect them to come out swinging this weekend. Stroked by Sandro Gardella (who may be the first Peruvian to ever race at IRAs), he will be backed up by a trio of Lithuanian giants in the shape of Justas Kuskevicius, Arnedas Kelmelis, and Domantas Marocka. If FIT finish in the top three they would be the first crew since Yale in 2019 to secure a medal without any American rowers in the boat – surely a great answer to a niche pub quiz question in twenty years’ time.
Boston, Pennsylvania, Cal, Princeton, and Syracuse
All five of these crews enter the event on the back of successful seasons and have a chance at medalling this weekend but are more likely to be nearer the back of the Grand Final. Although they have not released their lineups for the weekend, they will be sure to be stacked with both international experience as well as promising talent and may mix-up the order come race day.
Prediction
Given the recent success of the whole Brown team at Eastern Sprints, I imagine they will prevail victorious this weekend, but that isn’t to discount their rivals as of yet. As mentioned this is a hugley varied event and will regardless prove a fun watch at Lake Mercer.
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