WEST WINDSOR, New Jersey -  The Cal men's rowing team closed the 2017-18 season with a podium finish, placing third in the overall team standings at the 2018 Intercollegiate Rowing National Championship Regatta in West Windsor, New Jersey. All three of Cal's eights finished in the top three in their respective grand finals, led by a second-place finish from the second varsity eight and third-place results from both the varsity eight and third varsity eight. Rough conditions on Mercer Lake altered Sunday's racing schedule and ultimately caused cut the regatta short, cancelling the varsity four competition.

The Bears finished third overall in the Ten Eyck team standings with a total of 196 points, improving on last year's fourth-place result.

"All our boats raced really hard today and I'm very proud of their effort," said Cal head coach Mike Teti. "With the weather, there were definitely some lane advantages and I thought our guys did a really good job handling that. Overall, I'm just really proud of the team and how they performed today."

Sunday's racing began with the the regatta's main event: the grand final of the heavyweight men's varsity eight. As they did all weekend, the Bears were able to get off to a strong start, despite choppy and breezy conditions. Cal, Washington, and Yale established themselves as the early leaders in a tight field, with less than a length separating the top three crews through much of the first 1,000 meters. Yale and Washington were able to gain separation over the second half of the race, with the Bulldogs ultimately coming in first for their second consecutive national title. Cal crossed the line in third, improving upon their fifth-place finish in 2017 and medaling in the Varsity Challenge Cup for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

The grand final of the second varsity eight saw some of the most exciting racing of the morning, as Cal and Washington were locked in a battle to the finish. While the Huskies led the Bears by nearly a length at the midway mark, Cal was able to steadily gain seats on its Pac-12 rival over the second half of the race. The Bears were able to pull within three seats, though the Huskies prevailed in the sprint to the finish, besting the Bears by four seats. The silver medal marks the third year in a row that the Bears have medaled in the second varsity eight.

Cal claimed its third medal of the day in the third varsity eight with the Golden Bears claiming bronze in the Stewards Cup. The Golden Bears finished third, holding off a surge from Yale in a race that saw lots of movement as the conditions picked up around 1,000 meters. Washington finished first, followed by Harvard in second.

Slated to run later in the morning, the varsity four grand final – along with the remainder of the racing – was cancelled due to choppy conditions after a delay.   

The IRA National Championship Regatta marks the end of another successful season for the Golden Bears. Ranked in the top three in the nation for the majority of the season, the Bears finished second at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships and registered key wins over top crews from all across the country. Senior oarsman Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk closed his decorated Cal career being named the Pac-12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while also earning Pac-12 Rowing Athlete of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. Fellow senior Martin Mackovic and junior Joachim Sutton joined Wegrzycki-Szymczyk on the Pac-12 All-Conference Team.

"This senior class set the standard for our team," said Teti. "Not just when it comes to competing, but what they've done in the classroom. I think they are the true definition of student-athletes in every sense of the world and they will certainly be missed."

Sunday also marked the final collegiate regatta for head coach Mike Teti, who will now assume head coaching duties for the U.S. Men's National Team as they open a new National Team Training Center at the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center in  Oakland. Associate head coach Scott Frandsen, a three-time IRA National Champion during his time at Cal, will take over as the Bears' next head coach. During his ten years in Berkeley, Teti guided the Bears to a pair of Pac-12 and IRA titles  and was named the IRA National Coach of the Year in 2016.

"It's definitely some mixed feelings," Teti said about his final collegiate regatta with the Bears. "I've had a fantastic time at Cal and everyone has been so good to me and my family. I'm super thankful to have had this experience but I'm also excited for this new opportunity as well. The nice thing is, I won't be going far and this program is in great hands with Scott."

For more information on the Bears throughout the offseason, follow the team on Twitter (@CalMRowing), Instagram (@CalMRowing), and Facebook  (Facebook.com/CalMRowing).

Day 3 Results

James Ten Eyck Team Standings (Pts)
1.		Washington	211
2.		Yale	199
3.		California	196
4.		Harvard	186
5.		Princeton	158
6.		Northeastern	155
7.		Brown	143
8.		Boston University	131
9.		Syracuse	122
10.		Dartmouth	119
Varsity 8+ - Grand Final
1.	Yale		6:01.648
2.	Washington		6:04.337
3.	California		6:08.911
4.	Harvard		6:10.717
5.	Princeton		6:11.161
6.	Brown		6:14.272
Second Varsity 8+ - Grand Final
1.	Washington		6:23.404
2.	California		6:25.427
3.	Yale		6:31.079
4.	Harvard		6:39.773
5.	Northeastern		6:39.834
6.	Princeton		6:42.518
Third Varsity 8+ - Grand Final
1.	Washington		6:33.546
2.	Harvard		6:37.214
3.	California		6:42.550
4.	Yale		6:45.801
5.	Boston University		6:49.155
6.	Northeastern		6:53.018