Photo by: Stockton Photo
Thomas Named IRCA Comeback Athlete Of The Year
June 21, 2024 | Men's Rowing
BOSTON – Boston University men's rowing junior Tucker Thomas has been named the 2024 Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) Comeback Athlete of the Year, the organization announced on Friday afternoon.
Thomas is the first Terrier in program history to capture the honor. He is the second to earn an IRCA specialty award, joining Michael Boston, who earned the Inspiration Award in 2021.
The Comeback Athlete of the Year is given to an athlete who has shown significant improvement with their perseverance, determination, and dedication.
"In the fall of 2022, Tucker had a devastating shoulder injury while doing a 30' erg test," said Head Coach Thomas Bohrer through the IRCA's release. "It was later discovered that Tucker suffered from Parsonage Turner Syndrome, which is when your nerves detach from the muscle. It was a very painful and long process of treatment, rehab, and hard work for the nerves to grow back, but also to reteach movement in the arm. This meant that Tucker was out of the spring of 2023.
"He got back to erging and light rowing in the single during the summer of 2023, got back in a boat in the fall of 2023, and worked himself to full competition in the spring of 2024, racing in our 2V for the majority of the spring. Through perseverance, hard work, positive attitude, and faith, Tucker was able to get back to rowing at a high level."
After competing in the Varsity 8 against Brown and Northeastern to open the spring, Thomas entrenched himself in the Second Varsity 8 for the rest of the campaign. In the two seat at the IRA Championship, he helped the 2V finish 10th overall in the nation and fourth in the Petite Final. At the Eastern Sprints, he helped guide the Terriers to third in the Petite Final. Thomas powered the 2V to sweeps at the Lake Morey Invite against Georgetown, Wisconsin, Syracuse, and Dartmouth in April, while also defeating Temple, Holy Cross, Hobart, and Marist on Lake Quinsigamond earlier that month.
In his first official competitive return in the fall, Thomas operated in the bow seat of BU's Club 8+ "A" crew at the Head of the Charles. BU's entry completed the course in 14:32.495, finishing fifth out of 36 entries.
Thomas' recognition adds to a list of postseason accolades for the Terriers, who were 10th in the Ten Eyck team standings at the IRA Championship. Maxwell Kreutzelman and Jan Koska were tabbed as Empacher-IRCA All-Americans, while 13 Terriers were named Empacher-IRCA Scholar-Athletes.
Thomas is the first Terrier in program history to capture the honor. He is the second to earn an IRCA specialty award, joining Michael Boston, who earned the Inspiration Award in 2021.
The Comeback Athlete of the Year is given to an athlete who has shown significant improvement with their perseverance, determination, and dedication.
"In the fall of 2022, Tucker had a devastating shoulder injury while doing a 30' erg test," said Head Coach Thomas Bohrer through the IRCA's release. "It was later discovered that Tucker suffered from Parsonage Turner Syndrome, which is when your nerves detach from the muscle. It was a very painful and long process of treatment, rehab, and hard work for the nerves to grow back, but also to reteach movement in the arm. This meant that Tucker was out of the spring of 2023.
"He got back to erging and light rowing in the single during the summer of 2023, got back in a boat in the fall of 2023, and worked himself to full competition in the spring of 2024, racing in our 2V for the majority of the spring. Through perseverance, hard work, positive attitude, and faith, Tucker was able to get back to rowing at a high level."
After competing in the Varsity 8 against Brown and Northeastern to open the spring, Thomas entrenched himself in the Second Varsity 8 for the rest of the campaign. In the two seat at the IRA Championship, he helped the 2V finish 10th overall in the nation and fourth in the Petite Final. At the Eastern Sprints, he helped guide the Terriers to third in the Petite Final. Thomas powered the 2V to sweeps at the Lake Morey Invite against Georgetown, Wisconsin, Syracuse, and Dartmouth in April, while also defeating Temple, Holy Cross, Hobart, and Marist on Lake Quinsigamond earlier that month.
In his first official competitive return in the fall, Thomas operated in the bow seat of BU's Club 8+ "A" crew at the Head of the Charles. BU's entry completed the course in 14:32.495, finishing fifth out of 36 entries.
Thomas' recognition adds to a list of postseason accolades for the Terriers, who were 10th in the Ten Eyck team standings at the IRA Championship. Maxwell Kreutzelman and Jan Koska were tabbed as Empacher-IRCA All-Americans, while 13 Terriers were named Empacher-IRCA Scholar-Athletes.
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