JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville men's rowing team completed a successful weekend at the SIRA Championships on Sunday.
"This weekend flew by," said head coach Preston Weinard. "There was a lot of positive, anxious energy all weekend because of what was at stake. This is a weekend we've been talking about all year. I'm proud that everybody stepped up to succeed in their roles. We haven't rowed a pair or four's competitively in a while. A lot of young guys were in those boats, so it was great to see them step up and rise to the occasion."
While no Dolphin boat finished lower than fourth in their respective final, the Dolphins 1v8 stole the show. JU's First Varsity Eight finished in third yesterday's time trial, and second in its semi final to claim a spot in the Grand Final, with a chance at an automatic bid to the IRA National Championships on the line. Racing against boats from Virginia, Notre Dame, Colgate, FIT and Stetson, the Grand Final was competitive top to bottom, but the Dolphins, with a chance to clinch an automatic bid for the first time in over a decade, were up to the challenge. The 1v8 finished third, less than one second ahead of Colgate, and JU clinched the coveted bid to the IRA's, which start at the end of May.
"The pressure was on the Varsity Eight this weekend," said Weinard. "That's kind of the team atmosphere for us because that's the boat that can qualify, (FOR IRA). It's up to the whole team to make the 1v8 as fast as it can be, so it's a true team achievement to win that bid. The Varsity Eight was excited and driven all weekend, and has been all year, and they were willing to give everything they must to get that bid. I'm proud of them for fighting at the start and giving everything they have throughout the race. It was awesome to watch."
The Dolphins 2v8 Second Varsity Eight was in their respective Grand Final as well, and with a 6:14.227 time, claimed bronze. JU beat out boats from Delaware and Notre Dame while falling just behind Virginia and Purdue.
JU's Varsity 4+ earned a spot in the 'B' final, and after a 7:01.952 time, finished in second ahead of boats from Florida State, Baylor, and Clemson.
Jacksonville's pair group of D'Aloia and Simpson wrapped up the weekend of action with a fourth-place finish in the Grand Final. The Dolphins beat boats from Clemson and Liberty.
"Major kudos to the other boats that we raced," further added Weinard. "There was a lot of speed all weekend and it was an honor to race them all weekend.
UP NEXT
The men's rowing team returns to action in two weeks' time for the Dad Vail Regatta. Day one of the weekend is April 10, on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
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