SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara men's rowing takes to the water for the Western Sprints Regatta Saturday at Lake Natoma in Folsom, Calif. The final race of the regular season also marks a chance to qualify for the IRA National Championships.

The Bronco Varsity 8 boat will be the first Bronco crew to race as part of the day's second event at 1:45 p.m. Varsity 8 rounds out the competition with a 2 p.m. start time.  Each team faces opposition from Gonzaga, Oklahoma City University, UC San Diego and San Diego.

"This is the focal point of all of the work we have done since we began practice back in late September," head coach Jay Farwell said. "Our team is very young and we have had a really good year to this point. 

RACE SCHEDULE – LANE ASSIGNMENTS

Junior Varsity 8 – 1:45 p.m. 

1.UCSD

2.USD

3.Gonzaga

4.OCU

5.Santa Clara

Varsity 8 – 2 p.m.

1.OCU

2.USD

3.Santa Clara

4.Gonzaga

5.UCSD 

"From day one we have stressed that all of our racing in March and April was intended to prepare us for this Saturday," Farwell said. "The guys are ready and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity of racing against our competitors for IRA qualifying." 

LAST TIME OUT

Santa Clara captured three medals, including one gold medal, at the WIRA championships in Lake Natoma April 25-26. The crew's performance marked the second straight year of bringing home multiple medals from the event. 

The team's all-freshman Novice 8 boat won a gold medal, the Novice 4 boat won a silver medal and the Varsity 8 boat won a bronze medal. Each of the three medal-winning boats competed in a field of 13 or more crews.

Sophomore Ian Crutchlow and freshman Michael Brewer were tabbed First Team All-WIRA selections for their performance as part of the Broncos' Varsity 8 boat. 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.

GO BRONCOS!