WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - The Boston University men's rowing team competed on day two of the 2023 IRA National Championship on Saturday morning on Lake Mercer with the Varsity 4 winning the C final and all three 8 boats racing in semifinals.

The Varsity 8, coxed by Micha Lee and stroked by Paul Seiters, placed first in its C/D semifinal, crossing the finish in a time of 6:21.785, 2.36 seconds ahead of runner-up Wisconsin. The Badgers got off to a strong start and led through the first 1,500 meters but the Terriers moved ahead and closed out the win down the stretch.

The Varsity 8 will compete in Sunday's C final along with Navy, Wisconsin, Columbia, Drexel and La Salle. 

In the Second Varsity 8 competition, the Terriers finished sixth in the semifinals and will compete in Sunday's petite final. BU, coxed by Emily Slawin and stroked by Hurst Thompson, turned in a time of 6:46.955 in the semifinal.

The Third Varsity 8 will also compete in a petite final after placing fifth in Saturday's semifinal. Coxed by Peter Adams and stroked by Dylan Fagiani, BU completed the course in 6:52.011 on Saturday. 

The Varsity four boat of coxswain Philip Melki, stroke Ian Doud, bow Max Honeybone, Marino Kerler and Billy Sanders were placed in the C final based on Friday's time trials and held off Syracuse by 2.294 second to win the race. The Orange were first to the 500-meter mark but the Terriers were able to take the lead near the halfway point and never looked back, posting a time of 7:10.085.

Sunday's schedule is as follows:

8:48 a.m. - Varsity 8 C Final
8:56 a.m. - Third Varsity 8 Petite Final
9:20 a.m. - Second Varsity 8 Petite Final

DAY TWO RESULTS

Varsity Eight

C/D Semifinal #2 (top-3 to C final, 3+ to D final)
1) Boston University – 6:21.785
2) Wisconsin – 6:24.145
3) La Salle – 6:30.733
4) UC San Diego – 6:37.305
5) Santa Clara – 6:43.775
6) MIT – 6:44.137

Second Varsity Eight

A/B Semifinal #2 (top-3 to grand final, 3+ to petite final)
1) Washington – 6:15.581
2) Harvard – 6:18.297
3) Dartmouth – 6:20.629
4) Princeton – 6:23.661
5) Northeastern – 6:34.351
6)Boston University – 6:46.955

Third Varsity Eight

A/B Semifinal #2 (top-3 to grand final, 3+ to petite final)
1) Washington – 6:29.185
2) California – 6:32.235
3) Yale – 6:33.675
4) Princeton – 6:43.855
5) Boston University – 6:52.011
6) Navy – 6:52.683

Varsity Four

C Final 
1) Boston University – 7:10.085
2) Syracuse – 7:12.379
3) Oklahoma City – 7:14.365
4) Princeton – 7:16.191
5) Drexel – 7:20.671
6) Colgate – 7:27.215

LINEUPS

V8
Cox: Micah Lee
Stroke: Paul Seiters
7: Friedrich Amelingmeyer
6: Bowen de Gouw
5: Luke Brady
4: Andrea Carando
3: Timothy Nothnagel
2: Nicholas Ringelstein
Bow: Alexander Jastremski

2V8
Cox: Emily Slawin
Stroke: Hurst Thompson
7: Ethan Feldman
6: Andrea Garbo
5: Trainer Unsworth
4: Finn Berkhout
3: Gabriel Stekl
2: Grant Gwadz
Bow: Nicolo Bizzozero

3V8
Cox: Peter Adams
Stroke: Dylan Fagiani
7: Ian Varga
6: Stefan Scornavacca
5: Caleb Schwartz
4: Baringer Lovaas
3: Ian Thornell
2: Owen Loeb
Bow: Grigsby Lovaas

V4
Cox: Philip Melki
Bow: Max Honeybone
2: Marino Kerler
3: Billy Sanders
Stroke: Ian Doud