A quick look at the final results of the International Rowing Association Regatta from the last decade would indicate that Penn's rowing teams have not fared well through the years at the final competition of the spring season.
But last weekend, both the lightweight and heavyweight varsity eight boats were able to reverse that trend.
The Penn lightweight varisty eight took the bronze medal at the IRAs, which took place on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.
Led by captain Tim Mahoney and commodore Sean Luhks, the varsity eight finished in third place in the Grand Final with a time of 5.44.71.
The Quakers finished less than two seconds behind runner-up Cornell and three seconds behind first place Yale.
"This was the best finish for a Penn rowing team in a while, as far back as I've looked anyway, which was like 1991," Mahoney said.
"We were able to clock in some successful times during the season, and it all paid off last weekend" at the IRAs, Mahoney added.
The varsity lightweight eight was able to outperform Harvard's varsity boat. The Crimson have won the event every alternating year, according to Mahoney.
"They have finished first every odd year since the early '90s," Mahoney said.
"So beating them this year was really big for us."
The third-place finish came on the heels of a similar performance at Eastern Sprints three weeks ago. The varsity eight took fourth place overall at Easterns.
"Finishing the year off with some pretty good performances at Easterns, and now this, really helps us with next year," Mahoney said. "Now we can have some momentum going into offseason workouts and prepare for the fall races when we get back."
The Penn heavyweight varsity eight did not fare as well, placing 17th overall at IRAs. The boat finished 5th in the Third Level Final with a time of 5.54.16.
However, the freshman eight was able to place fourth overall, beating out boats from Princeton and Boston University. ÿThe novice heavyweights finished with a time of 5.57.33.
The heavyweight rowing team also recorded two other finishes at the regatta.ÿThe second varsity eight placed 11th overall, and the Red and Blue also had to settle for an 11th-place finish in the men's four with a coxswain.
But the story of the season for the Quakers has been the lightweight squad, which is showing signs of improvement after spending several years near the bottom of the Ivy pack.
"We are returning most of our core players on the varsity eight and adding a tremendous freshman class," Mahoney said. I think our coaches [Mike Irwin and John Fife] can only look up after this event."
