No. 1 Huskies Headed Back To Lake Natoma For 123rd IRA Regatta
May 19, 2026 | Men's Rowing
The No. 1-ranked Washington men's rowing team will return to Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif., May 29-31, for the 2026 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta, as the IRA announced the field for the annual event today.
Last year on the Cooper River in New Jersey, Washington won its 21st national championships, defending the title the Huskies had won the year before at Mercer Lake. Washington also won the second varsity eight and varsity four titles last year.
Washington, which will compete in all four heavyweight events (V8+, 2V8+, 3V8+ and V4+) will row in the heats on May 29, the first day of the regatta. Once the schedule for those heats is announced, it will be added here.
Semifinals in the three eights races will be run on Saturday, along with the varsity four final, and the three eights finals will all be run on Sunday, culminating with the varsity eight grand final.
First held in 1895, the IRA regatta was held on the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for most of its early history, including 1923, when head coach Rusty Callow '15 led the Huskies to their first national title. Washington had made its first-ever trip to IRAs 10 years earlier, in 1913, when they finished third in the varsity eight final.
In 1923, the Huskies, who had finished second to Navy in the '22 final, earned a measure of revenge, beating the Midshipmen in the three-mile final, completing the race in 14 minutes, 3.2 seconds. The UW won again in '24, beating second-place Wisconsin for the trophy.
Over the 103 years, the Huskies have won 21 national championships in men's rowing, which is awarded to the winner of the IRA varsity eight grand final.
In addition to the 21 Varsity Challenge Cup (national champion) wins, the Huskies have also won the Kennedy Challenge Cup (second varsity eight) 32 times; the Stewards Cup (formerly freshman eight; now third varsity eight) 30 times; the Eric W. Will Trophy (varsity four) 15 times; and both the Freshman Four and Third Varsity Eight (prior to Stewards Cup changing) once each. Washington has won the James Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy, for overall points, on 19 occasions.
Last year on the Cooper River in New Jersey, Washington won its 21st national championships, defending the title the Huskies had won the year before at Mercer Lake. Washington also won the second varsity eight and varsity four titles last year.
Washington, which will compete in all four heavyweight events (V8+, 2V8+, 3V8+ and V4+) will row in the heats on May 29, the first day of the regatta. Once the schedule for those heats is announced, it will be added here.
Semifinals in the three eights races will be run on Saturday, along with the varsity four final, and the three eights finals will all be run on Sunday, culminating with the varsity eight grand final.
First held in 1895, the IRA regatta was held on the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for most of its early history, including 1923, when head coach Rusty Callow '15 led the Huskies to their first national title. Washington had made its first-ever trip to IRAs 10 years earlier, in 1913, when they finished third in the varsity eight final.
In 1923, the Huskies, who had finished second to Navy in the '22 final, earned a measure of revenge, beating the Midshipmen in the three-mile final, completing the race in 14 minutes, 3.2 seconds. The UW won again in '24, beating second-place Wisconsin for the trophy.
Over the 103 years, the Huskies have won 21 national championships in men's rowing, which is awarded to the winner of the IRA varsity eight grand final.
In addition to the 21 Varsity Challenge Cup (national champion) wins, the Huskies have also won the Kennedy Challenge Cup (second varsity eight) 32 times; the Stewards Cup (formerly freshman eight; now third varsity eight) 30 times; the Eric W. Will Trophy (varsity four) 15 times; and both the Freshman Four and Third Varsity Eight (prior to Stewards Cup changing) once each. Washington has won the James Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy, for overall points, on 19 occasions.
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