Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport in the United States. Despite this, rowers comprise only 2.2% of total college athletes. This may be in part because of the status of rowing as an amateur sport and because not all universities have access to suitable bodies of water. In the 2002-03 school year there were 1,712 male and 6,690 female collegiate rowers. This is compared to the 2,037 male and 2,049 female high school rowers who competed in the 2003-04 school year.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ...

Harvard men's eight at Henley, 2004

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1737x1158, 486 KB) Harvard rowing at Henley 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1737x1158, 486 KB) Harvard rowing at Henley 2004. ...

History

Timeline

• 1852 - Yale challenges Harvard to a rowing race and the first Harvard-Yale Boat Race is held. This is also the first intercollegiate event held in the United States. Since 1864 this race has been held annually and since 1878, with few exceptions, it has been raced on the Thames River in New London, Connecticut.
• 1875 - Wellesley College established the first women's rowing program.
• 1894 -The Intercollegiate Rowing Association was founded by Cornell, Columbia, and Pennsylvania: its first annual regatta was hosted on June 24, 1895. Today Navy and Syracuse are also members of the association. Cornell dominates the early regattas winning 14 of the first 23 varsity 8 races.
• 1916 - Lightweight rowing was first introduced at the University of Pennsylvania.
• 1920 - Navy wins the gold medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in the 8 man (8+) boat. US collegiate boats would win the gold medal in the 8+ at the next 7 Olympics.
• 1922 - The first Harvard-Yale-Princeton lightweight race is held on May 20.
• 1923 - Washington is the first team from the west coast to win the varsity 8 title at the IRA regatta. Between 1920 and 1950, California, Navy and Washington would dominate college rowing winning 21 of the 25 varsity titles at the IRA and 5 Olympic titles in the eight man boat.
• 1946 - The Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) is formed and the first Eastern Sprints is held for lightweights and heavyweights.
• 1963 - Harry Parker becomes coach of Harvard.
• 1971 - Collegiate women begin competing in the eight oared boat (8+) at the National Women's Rowing Association (non-collegiate) Championship.
• 1972 - Congress passes Title IX which eventually causes a huge growth in women's rowing.
• 1976 - The Yale women's rowing team strips in front of the Yale athletic director to demand equal opportunity under Title IX. The incident makes national headlines.
• 1980 - The first Women's National Collegiate Rowing Championship is held.
• 1997 - The NCAA establishes a rowing championship for women.

1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... YALE (Yet Another Learning Environment) is an environment for machine learning experiments and data mining. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ... The Yale-Harvard Boat Race is an annual rowing race between Yale and Harvard universities. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: The Whaling City Motto: MARE LIBERUM Coordinates: NECTA Norwich-New London Region Southeastern Connecticut Settled 1646 (Pequot Plantation) Named 1658 (New London) Incorporated (city) 1784 Government  - Type Council-manager  - City council Margaret Mary Curtin, Mayor Kevin J. Cavanagh, Dep. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... In rowing, lightweight (Lwt for short) is a special category where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy, or USNA, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy. ... The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were held in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (141st in leap years). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ... Cal Logo The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 27 varsity athletic programs of the University of California, Berkeley. ... Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy, or USNA, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy. ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Harry Parker is the well-known head coach of the Harvard varsity rowing program (1963-present). ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, but more commonly known simply as Title IX, is a 76-word United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: No person... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, but more commonly known simply as Title IX, is a 76-word United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: No person... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... Division I The NCAA Division I Womens Rowing Championships comprise 312 total competitors (344 including spares) and three events (Varsity Eights, JV Eights, Fours). ...

Olympic Medals won by US Collegiate Boats

Up until the 1968 Summer Olympics, the United States had a trial system to pick the boats that would represent the United States in the Olympics. The top boats in the country, both collegiate and club, would participate in the Olympic Trials after the end of the collegiate calendar. The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were held in Mexico City in 1968. ...

With the exception of 1964, a college boat won every Olympics Trials in the eight oared boat (8+) from 1920 through 1968. And in an amazing streak, all of the boats from 1920 through 1956 won gold medals. College boats also have had some success in the four man events (4+) and (4-) and the pair (2-).

Beginning in 1972, the United States has chosen its eight from a national selection camp. Numerous college athletes have made Olympic boats, but they were not specifically representing their University either at the camp, or at the Olympic trials for some of the smaller boats.

Below is a list of college boats that represented the United States at the Olympics:

8 Oared Boats (8+)

Olympic Gold Medals

• 1920 Summer Olympics Brussels -- United States Naval Academy
• 1924 Summer Olympics Paris -- Yale University
• 1928 Summer Olympics Amsterdam -- University of California
• 1932 Summer Olympics Los Angeles -- University of California
• 1936 Summer Olympics Berlin -- University of Washington
• 1948 Summer Olympics London -- University of California
• 1952 Summer Olympics Helsinki -- United States Naval Academy
• 1956 Summer Olympics Melbourne -- Yale University

The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were held in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. ... Nickname: Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 979 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 Government  - Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area  - Region 162 km²  (62. ... The Games of the VIII Olympiad were held in 1924 in Paris, France. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, were held in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, were held in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were held in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ... The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were held in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia, although the equestrian events could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations. ... Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ...

Other Olympic Eight Man Boats

• 1960 Summer Olympics Rome -- United States Naval Academy (5th Place)
• 1968 Summer Olympics Mexico City -- Harvard University (6th Place)

The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, were held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were held in Mexico City in 1968. ... Nickname: Location of Mexico City in central Mexico Coordinates: Country Mexico Federal entity Federal District Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded (as Tenochtitlan) c. ...

4 Oared Boats w/Coxswain (4+)

• 1928 Summer Olympics Amsterdam -- Harvard University (eliminated)
• 1948 Summer Olympics London, Gold Medal - University of Washington
• 1952 Summer Olympics Helsinki, Bronze Medal - University of Washington
• 1964 Summer Olympics Tokyo -- Harvard University (eliminated)
• 1968 Summer Olympics Mexico City -- University of Pennsylvania (5th Place)

The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, were held in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were held in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ... The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, were held in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were held in Mexico City in 1968. ... Nickname: Location of Mexico City in central Mexico Coordinates: Country Mexico Federal entity Federal District Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded (as Tenochtitlan) c. ...

4 Oared Boats w/out Coxswain (4-)

• 1948 Summer Olympics London, Bronze Medal - Yale University
• 1952 Summer Olympics Helsinki, United States Naval Academy (eliminated)

The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were held in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ...

2 Oared Boats (2-)

• 1948 Summer Olympics London - Yale University (eliminated)
• 1952 Summer Olympics Helsinki, Gold Medal - Rutgers University

The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were held in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ...

Categories

Men's Rowing

Collegiate men's rowing consists of two squads, a varsity and a freshman team. The varsity squad typically fields a Varsity Eight (8+), a Second Varsity or Junior Varsity Eight (8+) and a Varsity Four (4+), but on occasion can field other boats. The varsity eight is the most prestigious boat, and teams try to make it the fastest boat possible. Oarsmen who don't make the varsity eight are usually placed in the Second Varsity eight followed by the Varsity Four. The term 'Junior Varsity' as used in rowing is a historical misnomer. It is not a separate team or squad like a typicial junior varsity team, but the substitutes for the varsity boat. Coaches often trade rowers between boats during the season trying to make the fastest Varsity 8 possible. Most major regattas use the term second varsity when referring to the second boat fielded by a college. In sports, usually at the high school and college levels, members of a team who are not the main players in a competition (such as a football or basketball game) are called junior varsity players. ...

If a regatta has a point system for determining the overall champion, it is based on the showing of the Varsity 8, the Second Varsity 8, the Varsity 4, and the Freshman 8 plus other boats.

Women's Rowing

Like the men, women rowers compete in a Varsity 8, a Second Varsity, and a Varsity Four. Most teams also field a Novice Eight or other boat for novice rowers who don't make one of the higher boats. The NCAA Rowing Championships only has races for the aforementioned Varsity boats, and it awards points for the overall championship based on the performance of those boats. Division I The NCAA Division I Womens Rowing Championships are comprised of 312 total competitors (344 including spares) and three events (Varsity Eights, JV Eights, Fours). ...

There has been a spectacular growth in women's rowing over the past twenty years. Universities that have never had a men's team have suddenly added women's rowing to the athletic department and are passing out athletic scholarships. (Few men's teams have athletic scholarships for rowers). This, in part, is to comply with Title IX. Many of the football powers use women's rowing to help balance out the large number of scholarships awarded to male football players. This has disenfranchised many collegiate male rowers who now have to pay, usually out of pocket, to row as a collegiate club. Thus the quality of male collegiate rowing suffers because of a lack of funding in this very expensive sport. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...

Lightweight Rowing

In rowing, taller, heavier individuals have a small, but significant advantage. It is based on the same physical principle that causes boats with more rowers to go faster. To allow average-sized rowers to best compete against their peers, the rowing governing boards have set-up a category for lightweight rowing. For men, the maximum weight is 160 lbs. with a boat average of 155 lbs., and for women the weight limit is 130 lb. In rowing, lightweight (Lwt for short) is a special category where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. ...

There are races for both men's and women's lightweight rowing. However, many of the smaller colleges have limited sized programs and simply field open weight boats, which include rowers who would qualify as lightweights. And many of the larger university where the competition to make a boat is intense, do not have lightweight programs, and if they do, it is often an underfunded club sport. For women, the NCAA Rowing Championships do not have a lightweight event. In rowing, lightweight (Lwt for short) is a special category where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. ... Division I The NCAA Division I Womens Rowing Championships are comprised of 312 total competitors (344 including spares) and three events (Varsity Eights, JV Eights, Fours). ...

The exception is the Ivy League/EARC schools, who often have excellent well-funded men's lightweight teams. The lightweight men's events at Eastern Sprints and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship are fiercely contested. For the record label, see Ivy League Records. ... Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ... The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. ...

Lightweight events have recently been added to the Olympics and it is possible that this might increase funding for these teams. The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ...

Freshman/Novice Rowing

Since rowing is such a technical sport, there is a seperate category for novices (rowers with less than one year of experience). This is usually combined with a freshman rowers, who may have rowed before in highschool, but it is their first year in collegiate rowing. The Freshman squad is sometimes open only to college freshmen. However, people who start rowing after their freshman year normally join the novice team as well. The novice squad usually fields a freshman eight oared boat (8+), and if the team is big enough, a second eight, and/or a 4 oared boat (4+). In some collegiate conferences excluding the EARC and Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA), collegiate freshmen/novice can also compete as part of the varsity squad.

A Year in Rowing

Rowing is one of the few collegiate sports where athletes practice year round and compete during both spring and fall. This culture of year round training is attributed to Harry Parker who became head coach of the Harvard heavyweight men's team in 1963.^{[citation needed]} In addition many athletes train at various rowing clubs around the country during the summer. Harry Parker is the well-known head coach of the Harvard varsity rowing program (1963-present). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

Fall

In the fall, most schools focus on building technical proficiency and improving physical strength and endurance. This is typically accomplished through long steady practice pieces, with occasional shorter interval pieces. In the United States fall is also the season of head races which are typically between three and six kilometers. These longer races are part of the foundation for the spring season, building the rower's endurance and mental toughness. The largest fall race is the Head of the Charles Regatta held in Boston, Massachusetts each October. This race includes rowers of all ages, abilities, and affiliations and features the best college crews in competition with Olympic level athletes from the US and other countries. The largest collegiate-only regatta in the fall is the Princeton Chase, typically in early November on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, New Jersey and hosted by Princeton University. A head race is a type of rowing race. ... Kennedy School womens team outside the Weld Boathouse preparing to row the Head of the Charles in 1996, though that year the race was cancelled due to bad weather. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area  - City  89. ... Nassau Street, Princetons main street. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States of America. ...

Winter

This is an intense building period for the spring racing season. The training regimen consists primarily of long interval training, which gradually becomes shorter and more intense as the race season approaches. This is done on the water for schools below the snowline. And for some of the northern colleges that practice on lakes and rivers which are frozen during winter, these pieces are done using ergometers and, if the college is lucky to have them, indoor rowing tanks. Additionally, most schools, regardless of whether they have water to row on, do ergometer testing (all out maximum performance test), weights, stadium stairs and long runs. A few colleges and universities send their fastest rowers to the CRASH-B Sprints in Boston. This 2,000 meter race is held on ergometers and features separate events for collegiate athletes. Many northeastern colleges have a winter training trip to a warmer state such as Florida or Georgia during either winter break or spring break to give students extra time on the water while the local rivers and lakes are frozen. A row of Concept2 Model C indoor rowers An indoor rower is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. ... The CRASH-B Sprints is the world championship for indoor rowing raced over 2,000 m on Concept2 indoor rowers. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area  - City  89. ...

Spring

Spring is the primary season for college rowing, and the majority of schedule is composed of dual races. These 2,000 meter races take place between two, or sometimes three, schools.

There are also several large regattas, such as the San Diego Crew Classic and the Eastern Sprints, which may be on the schedule. In this case, the teams compete in either flights, in which the winner is final, or a series of heats and semifinals before the winners move on to the finals. Sprint races begin with all teams lined up and started simultaneously, as opposed to the time trials in the fall. Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ...

Performing well in these races is the most important selection criteria for the various post season invitation rowing championships. If the crew is in a league, the dual race and regatta results will also typically be used in determining the team's seeding for the league championship.

The lightweight division becomes more prominent during the spring. Many head races lack separate categories for heavyweight/lightweight, but many spring races have a separate weight category for lighter rowers. In rowing, lightweight (Lwt for short) is a special category where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. ...

National Championships

Men's

The Intercollegiate Rowing Association, known as the IRA was founded by Cornell, Columbia, and Penn in 1894 and its first annual regatta was hosted on June 24, 1895. Today Navy and Syracuse are also members of the association. Each year these five schools choose who to invite to the regatta and are responsible for its organization along with the ECAC. The IRA is the oldest college rowing championship in the United States. The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. ...

Since the 1920s, when the West Coast crews, notably California and University of Washington began to attend and regularly win, most crews considered the Intercollegiate Rowing Association's championship (know as the IRA) to be a de facto national championship. Two important crews, Harvard and Yale, however, did not participate in the heavyweight divisions of the event. (After losing to Cornell in 1897, Harvard and Yale chose to avoid the IRA, so as not to diminish the Harvard-Yale race. It soon became part of each school's tradition not to go). And beginning in 1973, Washington decided to skip the IRA because of change in schedule conflicted with it finals. Sather tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... Yales Blade The Yale-Harvard Boat Race or Harvard-Yale Regatta is an annual rowing race between Yale and Harvard universities. ...

Even though rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport, the men have always chosen not to join the NCAA. If they did, the NCAA would sponsor a championship, but it would also force the sport to abide by NCAA rules and mandates. Notwithstanding, collegiate crews generally abide by NCAA rules, and they also have to abide by athletic conference rules, which mirror the NCAA rules.

In 1982, a Harvard alumnus decided to remedy this perceived problem by establishing a heavyweight varsity National Collegiate Rowing Championship race in Cincinnati, Ohio. It paid for the winners of the Pac-10 Championship, the Eastern Sprints, the IRA and the Harvard-Yale race to attend. It was a finals only event and other crews could attend if they paid their own way and there was room in the field. The winner received an expense paid trip to the Henley Royal Regatta as a prize. After 1996, however, the race was discontinued. The now defunct National Collegiate Rowing Championship was an quasi-official national championship for mens collegiate rowing held in Cincinatti, Ohio between 1983 and 1996. ... The Pacific Ten Conference (Pac-10) is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States. ... Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ... The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. ... Yales Blade The Yale-Harvard Boat Race or Harvard-Yale Regatta is an annual rowing race between Yale and Harvard universities. ... A race taking place at Henley Regatta 2004 Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the river Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. ...

Given Washington's return to the IRA in 1995 and the demise of the National Collegiate Rowing Championship, the IRA again was considered to be the National Championship. In 2003, Harvard and Yale, after an absence of over one hundred years, decided to participate making the IRA a true national championship.

Women's

Between 1971 and 1980, women's collegiate boats entered the National Women’s Rowing Association National Championships (what is now the USRowing National Championships). The college boats raced against club boats, including boats from outside the United States. The best finishing US collegiate boat was deemed to be the National Championship.

The first women’s collegiate championship was held in 1980 at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This race was open solely to collegiate rowing teams.

Since 1997, the NCAA has hosted an invitational rowing championship for women. Unlike the former women's collegiate championship, the NCAA does not have a championship race for women's lightweight rowing. In response, the IRA hosts a women's lightweight event. Division I The NCAA Division I Womens Rowing Championships comprise 312 total competitors (344 including spares) and three events (Varsity Eights, JV Eights, Fours). ...

The NCAA currently hosts championships for Division I, Division II and Division III colleges, Division II and III having been added in 2002.

NCAA Division I requires colleges to enter two eight-oared shells and one four-oared shell in the team championship. The championship is restricted to 12. Four other colleges are selected to enter an eight-oared shells tournament. The NCAA Division II championship consists of an eight-oared shells and four-oared shell competition . The Division III championship involves both varsity and second varsity eights in the same event.

Conferences (Partial List)

Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges

The Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) was formed in 1946. It is composed of the Ivy League schools plus other select universities. Each year the EARC schools race at the Eastern Sprints regatta on Lake Quinsigamond in Massachusetts, which, for the men, is generally considered the most important race of the year aside from the IRA. The Pac-10 championship, with California, Stanford, Oregon State and the University of Washington is also highly competitive. For the record label, see Ivy League Records. ... Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ... The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. ... Sather tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San José in Stanford, California. ... Oregon State University (OSU) is a four-year research and degree-granting public university, located in Corvallis, Oregon in the United States. ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ...

On the women's side, the conference is called the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges (EAWRC). It's Eastern Sprints, held on the Cooper River in New Jersey, are highly competitive, but because of the huge growth in women's rowing, the Aramark Central Region Championships and Pac-10 Championships are deep and highly competitive as well. Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ...

The Eastern Sprints also serve as the Ivy League Championship, with the best placed boat from an Ivy League school being crowned Ivy League Champion. Eastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for either the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) or the Eastern Association of Womens Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) league. ... For the record label, see Ivy League Records. ...

For similarly-named academic institutions, see Boston (disambiguation). ... For similarly-named academic institutions, see Boston (disambiguation). ... For similarly-named academic institutions, see Boston (disambiguation). ... Brown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... Brown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... Cornell University is a private university located in Ithaca, New York, USA. Its two medical campuses are in New York City and Education City, Qatar. ... Dartmouth College is a private, coeducational university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States. ... Dartmouth College is a private, coeducational university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States. ... Dartmouth College is a private, coeducational university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States. ... The University of Delaware (UD or UDel) is the largest university in the U.S. state of Delaware. ... Georgetown University, incorporated as the The President and Directors of the College of Georgetown, is a private university in the United States, located in Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With roots extending back to March 25, 1634 and founded in its current form on January 23, 1789... Georgetown University, incorporated as the The President and Directors of the College of Georgetown, is a private university in the United States, located in Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With roots extending back to March 25, 1634 and founded in its current form on January 23, 1789... Georgetown University, incorporated as the The President and Directors of the College of Georgetown, is a private university in the United States, located in Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With roots extending back to March 25, 1634 and founded in its current form on January 23, 1789... Georgetown University, incorporated as the The President and Directors of the College of Georgetown, is a private university in the United States, located in Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With roots extending back to March 25, 1634 and founded in its current form on January 23, 1789... The George Washington University (GWU) is a private university in Washington, D.C., founded in 1821 as The Columbian College. ...   The George Washington University (GWU), or informally, G.W., is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian university located in Washington, D.C.. Founded in 1821 as the Columbian College, the university has since developed into a leading educational and research institution. ... Harvard Yard Harvard College is the undergraduate section and oldest school of Harvard University, having been founded in 1636. ... Harvard Yard Harvard College is the undergraduate section and oldest school of Harvard University, having been founded in 1636. ... Radcliffe College was a liberal arts womens college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, closely associated with Harvard University. ... Radcliffe College was a liberal arts womens college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, closely associated with Harvard University. ... // Holy Cross or Saint Cross may refer to: Christian cross, a frequently used religious symbol of Christianity Feast of the Cross, a commemoration most often celebrated on September 14 Holy Cross may also refer to: Marley will slay drunk bitches A number of communities by the name of Order of... Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT, MapúaTech or simply Mapúa) is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila. ... Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT, MapúaTech or simply Mapúa) is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila. ... Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT, MapúaTech or simply Mapúa) is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila. ... Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT, MapúaTech or simply Mapúa) is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila. ... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... Northeastern University (NU) is a top-tier private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, in the New England region of the United States. ... Northeastern University (NU) is a top-tier private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, in the New England region of the United States. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States of America. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States of America. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States of America. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, in the United States of America. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ... Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. ... Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. ... The University of Wisconsin–Madison (also known as UW–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, or UW) is a highly selective public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin. ... The University of Wisconsin–Madison (also known as UW–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, or UW) is a highly selective public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin. ... “Yale” redirects here. ... “Yale” redirects here. ... “Yale” redirects here. ...

Eastern Colleges Athletic Conference/Metro League

The ECAC/Metro League is a women's rowing conference. The ECAC allows Division II and III schools and Division I clubs but not Division I varsity teams.

The participating schools are: Buffalo, Colgate, Delaware, Fordham, Marist, UMass, UNH, URI, Villanova, WVU University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (also known as University at Buffalo or simply UB) is a coeducational public research university, which has multiple campuses located in Buffalo and Amherst, New York, USA. Offering over 100 bachelors, 112 masters and 98 doctoral degrees, it is... Colgate in fall. ... The University of Delaware (UD or UDel) is the largest university in the U.S. state of Delaware. ... Fordham University is a private, coeducational research university[2]in the United States, with three residential campuses located in and around New York City. ... This article is about Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. For other facilities with similar names, see List of Marist Brothers schools. ... This page is about the university system across Massachusetts. ... University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire (USNH). ... The University of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as URI, is the principal public research university in the State of Rhode Island, with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, and three other campuses located throughout the state. ... Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. ... West Virginia University is an institution of higher learning based in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, with the off-site campuses of West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg, West Virginia, West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, West Virginia, Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser, West...

Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference

The Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference consists of seven NCAA Division II and III member schools in USRowing's Northwest region. The Conference hosts two major regattas each year. The NCRC Invite takes place during late-March on Vancouver Lake, Washington and has welcomed non-conference members from California, Oregon, and Washington. Conference championships are annually held the third weekend of April at the Cascade Sprints Regatta on Lake Stevens, Washington. Vancouver Lake is a widespread lake in Vancouver, Washington, United States (right across the river from Portland, Oregon). ... Official language(s) English Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,827 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 6. ... Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. ...

This article is about Humboldt State University in California. ... This article is about Humboldt State University in California. ... // College History and Location Lewis and Clark College, a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1867 as Albany Collegiate Institute by a group of Presbyterian pioneers in the Willamette Valley town of Albany 46 miles south of Portland. ... // College History and Location Lewis and Clark College, a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1867 as Albany Collegiate Institute by a group of Presbyterian pioneers in the Willamette Valley town of Albany 46 miles south of Portland. ... The university is located near Tacoma, Washington Pacific Lutheran University is located in the Parkland suburb of Tacoma, Washington. ... Glossary of Rowing Terms PLU Crew is the varsity rowing program for Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. ... The University of Puget Sound (often called UPS or just Puget Sound) is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States. ... Puget Sound Rowing was started in the mid-1960s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Western Washington University (also referred to as WWU or Western) is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. ... Western Washington University (also referred to as WWU or Western) is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. ... Willamette University is a private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. ... Willamette University is a private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. ...

New England Rowing Conference

Amherst College is a private, independent, elite[1][2] liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. It is the third oldest college in Massachusetts. ... For other uses, see Bates (disambiguation), Bates (surname) Bates College is a private liberal arts college, founded in 1855 by abolitionists, located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. ... For other uses, see Bates (disambiguation), Bates (surname) Bates College is a private liberal arts college, founded in 1855 by abolitionists, located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. ... Brandeis University is a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. ... Brandeis University is a private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. ... For similarly-named academic institutions, see Boston (disambiguation). ... Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States, is a private teaching and research institution founded in 1887 by the industrialist Jonas Clark. ... Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States, is a private teaching and research institution founded in 1887 by the industrialist Jonas Clark. ... Colby College, founded in 1813, is one of the United States of Americas oldest independent liberal arts colleges. ... Colby College, founded in 1813, is one of the United States of Americas oldest independent liberal arts colleges. ... Connecticut College is a coeducational, highly selective private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut. ... Connecticut College is a coeducational, highly selective private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut. ... Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and masters level university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. ... Not to be confused with Holy Cross College (Indiana) or other similarly named Holy Cross Colleges. ... Not to be confused with Holy Cross College (Indiana) or other similarly named Holy Cross Colleges. ... Middlebury College is a private, small, highly selective liberal arts college located in the rural New England shire town of Middlebury, Vermont, United States. ... Middlebury College is a private, small, highly selective liberal arts college located in the rural New England shire town of Middlebury, Vermont, United States. ... Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts womens college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. ... Simmons College is a liberal arts womens college in Boston, Massachusetts. ... Smith College, located in Northampton, Massachusetts, is the largest womens college in the United States []. Smith admits only female undergraduates, but admits both men and women as graduate students. ... Trinity College is a private liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. ... Trinity College is a private liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. ... Tufts University is a private research university in Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts, suburbs of Boston. ... Tufts University is a private research university in Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts, suburbs of Boston. ... The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), located in New London, Connecticut is a U.S. military academy that provides education to future officers of the United States Coast Guard. ... The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), located in New London, Connecticut is a U.S. military academy that provides education to future officers of the United States Coast Guard. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The University of Massachusetts Lowell is one of five University of Massachusetts campuses. ... The University of Massachusetts Lowell is one of five University of Massachusetts campuses. ... University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire (USNH). ... University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire (USNH). ... The University of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as URI, is the principal public research university in the State of Rhode Island, with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, and three other campuses located throughout the state. ... UVM redirects here. ... UVM redirects here. ... Wellesley College is a womens liberal arts college that opened in 1875, founded by Henry Fowle Durant and his wife Pauline Fowle Durant. ... Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a private liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut. ... Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a private liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut. ... Williams College is a private, coeducational, highly selective (17% admission rate this year) liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. ... Williams College is a private, coeducational, highly selective (17% admission rate this year) liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. ... Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States. ...

Sources

• NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report
• 2003-04 high school sports participation summary
• NCAA Championship Handbooks
• RowingHistory.net
• Row2k Collegiate Polls
• 100 year history of the University of Washington Men's Crew
• Fight in the Dog - Coverage of US women's collegiate lightweight rowing