SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara rowing sophomore Ian Crutchlow and freshman Michael Brewer have been tabbed First Team All-WIRA selections for their performance as part of the Broncos' Varsity 8 boat at April's WIRA Championships. In addition to the accolades for the oarsmen, head coach Jay Farwell was named WIRA co-Coach of the Year alongside Arthur Erickson of Washington State. 

Crutchlow and Brewer row as the stern pair for the varsity 8 boat, which entered the championships seeded No. 3 in a 14-crew field. The team took second place in its Saturday heat — posting the third-fastest overall heat time — to qualify for Sunday's grand final. The Broncos earned a bronze medal with a third-place finish and a time of 6:17.8 — 5.3 seconds behind first-place UC Irvine. They are two of only six oarsman to earn First Team All-WIRA honors.

"Michael and Ian have done a great job for us this year," Farwell said. "These two positions are incredibly important as they set the rhythm and pacing for the boat. 

"Both these guys — along with the rest of the guys in the boat — work very hard each and every day. The First Team All-WIRA selection is a testament to their commitment to the team and all of the hard work to this point in the season. I congratulate both Michael and Ian knowing that this selection would not be possible without the efforts of their teammates." 

Farwell is in the third season of his second tenure as head coach of the men's rowing team. In addition to the Varsity 8 bronze medal at the 2015 WIRAs, Santa Clara's Novice 8 boat won a gold medal and its Novice 4 boat won a silver medal. 

"A great deal of credit needs to be attributed to my assistant coach Evan Bainbridge," Farwell said. " Evan and I approach this as a combined effort and our team would not be where it is today without his participation and leadership."