SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Diego men's rowing closed out its 2025-26 season Friday and Saturday, May 29-30, at the 2026 IRA National Championship Regatta at Lake Natoma, with the first varsity four earning an 18th-place national ranking after competing in the championship's top tier of competition across three rounds of racing.
"I am incredibly proud of the composure and execution this Varsity 4 crew put on display this weekend," said co-interim head coach Costas Ciungan.
"It's unfortunate that we came out on the wrong end of some really tight racing this weekend, but I'm proud of th grittiness we showed not only at this regatta but the entire season," added co-interim head coach Jack Newell.
The Toreros opened the regatta Friday morning with a highly focused effort in the time trial, crossing the finish line in 6:25.88 to earn a 16th-place overall ranking out of the full national field and qualify for the A/B/C semi final. The result proved critical — only the top 18 boats in the country advanced to the A/B/C Semifinals, the highest tier of racing at the IRA championships, while the remainder of the field was placed in the D/E brackets. By securing a top-18 finish, San Diego punched its ticket into the elite level of national competition.
Advancing to Friday afternoon's A/B Semifinal, the Toreros drew lane six and lined up against a field of East Coast powerhouses that included Pennsylvania, Harvard and Boston University. San Diego fought hard through the middle thousand meters against an aggressive elite pace and demanding water conditions, ultimately finishing sixth in the heat in 6:45.43. The result placed the Toreros into Saturday's C Final.
In Saturday's C Final, San Diego competed in a tightly contested race from Lane 6 against Colgate, Florida Institute of Technology, Brown, Stetson and St. Joseph's. The Toreros crossed the line in 6:49.22, finishing sixth in a race where many boats finished within a second of each other. The result secured USD an official national ranking of 18th overall to close out the championship season.
The finish marks the end of the 2025-26 season for the Toreros, a season that showed team's ability to shine through adversity.
"Our team accomplished a lot this spring and our athletes should be proud of that," said Newell.
"We are building a sustained culture of excellence here at USD and this past weekend laid a fantastic foundation for fast speed ahead."
RESULTS
Friday — Time Trial 16th: San Diego (6:25.88)
Friday — A/B Semifinal 6th: San Diego (6:45.43) — vs. Pennsylvania, Harvard, Boston University
Saturday — C Final 6th: San Diego (6:49.22) — vs. Colgate, Florida Institute of Technology, Brown, Stetson, St. Joseph's
LINEUP
First Varsity 4+: Cox — Jonah McDonnell; Stroke — Jadyn Conover; 3 — Jack Roach; 2 — Rex Bales; Bow — Henry Michaud
