Announcing “The Oarsman”
When the IRCA was founded in 2020 one of our primary goals was to recognize the academic, athletic, and professional achievements of the athletes and coaches within men’s collegiate rowing. Over the past four years we have named 374 All-Americans, over 2000 Scholar-Athletes, and nearly 40 specialty award winners.
Today we are proud to add to these accolades by announcing an award that has been years in the making - “The Oarsman”.
More than a standout performer, The Oarsman is a generational talent: someone whose collegiate record is not only impressive but, in many cases, unprecedented within their program. Though only one crew may win gold, this award recognizes the individual who has made their team greater through tireless dedication, transformative impact, and uncompromising excellence.
The Oarsman award stands as a tribute to those rare athletes who achieve greatness not only through personal excellence but through a lasting commitment to their team, their sport, and the values that define true champions.
What are the criteria to be nominated?
Any academically eligible rower from an IRCA member school
Limited to 3rd and 4th year student-athletes
What is the nominating process?
Head coaches of member schools can name one nominee from their team, if they choose, and should be prepared to write a letter of recommendation detailing why their athlete is deserving of this recognition.
How are the finalists selected?
The IRCA Board of Directors will consider the coach’s recommendation and the athlete’s collegiate body of work while representing their institution in order to narrow down the list of nominees to 8 D1/2 finalists, 5 LTWT finalists, and 5 D3 finalists.
How are the winners selected?
The IRCA Board of Directors has assembled a group of nearly 200 selectors, including Fred Schoch and Curtis Jordan who will help lead the group in our inaugural year. This carefully chosen group includes the following:
All IRCA member school head coaches
Coach emeriti
Media representatives
Olympic medalists who have competed at the IRA
Team captains of recent IRA winning teams
When will the winner be announced?
Following our standard awards announcement timeline, finalists will be announced on Monday, June 16th with the winner being announced on Friday, June 20th.
