The UCLA Men's Rowing team is set to close out its 2025 campaign on the national stage at the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships this weekend on Lake Melton in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. With four competitive entries and championship aspirations across the board, the Bruins arrive with experience, speed, and high expectations.
Varsity 8 Primed for Another Run at the Podium
The Bruins' Varsity 8 enters the regatta ranked #6 in the nation and aiming to return to the Grand Final after a bronze-medal finish last year and a national title in 2023. The field is deep, with 28 crews vying for a spot on the podium through four heats, with the top three from each advancing to Saturday's semifinals.
Top-ranked Virginia, Purdue, and defending champion Notre Dame headline the field, with regional rival Orange Coast College (#4) and Rutgers (#5) rounding out a tightly packed group of contenders. UCLA is expected to challenge for a place in the final, where a showdown with these familiar names is likely.
The Bruins gained valuable big-race experience earlier this month, competing against crews from Washington at the Opening Day Regatta in Seattle. That test, against one of the premier IRA programs in the country, provided a critical sharpening opportunity ahead of this weekend's challenge.
"The crew has had really good training these past few weeks since WIRA," said Head Coach Marcel Stiffey. "One thing that has helped is getting back one of our injured athletes who missed WIRA. We feel the boat is moving better than it's moved all year, and right now is the time to be feeling that."
Team captain Toby Gajar echoed the optimism heading into the weekend. "This is the culmination of all our hard work this season," he said. "It will be exciting to see how the weekend unfolds. I'm really enjoying how we've been rowing lately—I'm excited to take these changes to race day."
Second Varsity 8 Eyes Medal Finish
UCLA's 2V8 comes into the championship as the top finishing ACRA second varsity boat from the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships. With 19 entries in the event, crews will compete in three heats with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
After a strong performance last year that placed them fourth in the nation, the Bruins are determined to break into the medals this time around. The crew has shown consistency all season and will lean on their composure and training to navigate a highly competitive field.
Novice 8 Aims to Prove Their Ranking
The UCLA 1N8 is ranked #3 in the ACRA poll behind Purdue and OCC, and enters the regatta with momentum, and a hunger to make a statement. With 20 entries across three heats (top four to semifinals), the field will be intense from the first stroke.
The novices missed the Grand Final in 2024, placing 9th overall. This year, they'll look to capitalize on their growth and depth. Their most recent race against Coast at WIRA saw the young Bruins on the short end of a rare double pass in a dramatic Grand Final, providing a learning moment they have built upon in the lead-up to ACRA.
"I'm really excited to row this week at ACRA," said novice Sumaer Dhalla. "Coach Marcel and Weston did a phenomenal job preparing us all year for this event and provided us the best possible chance to win. After finishing 2nd in WIRA it gave the guys rowing the 1N the fire to train harder than before and we can't wait to represent UCLA this Sunday."
Second Novice 8 Seeks Breakthrough in Smaller Field
UCLA's 2N8, arriving to ACRA with silver from WIRA, will face a smaller but no less challenging field of eight entries. The top three from each of two heats will progress to the Grand Final. The Bruins' second novice crew has been training daily with the 1N and has shown increasing power and speed throughout the season. Expect them to be in the hunt when the medals are on the line.
Championship Outlook
The 2025 ACRA Championships mark the final chapter in what has already been a successful and growth-filled season for the Bruins. With proven experience, a well-prepared team, and a legacy to uphold, UCLA's crews are set to make their presence felt on Lake Melton. Racing begins Friday with preliminary heats and continues through Sunday's finals.
Race information can be found at Regatta Central.
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