WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The University of Pennsylvania men's heavyweight crew placed a Four in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships regatta this weekend at Mercer Lake, and the boat was consistent through Friday and Saturday. After clocking the fifth-best time in Friday morning's time trials, the Quakers rowed in the Grand Final on Saturday morning and finished fifth again.
 
Final Results (RegattaTiming.com)

Penn—whose Four featured sophomore Jake Nordell as well as freshmen Brian Decelles, Colin Rosser, Ben Rutherford and Nicole Ahadian (cox)—opened the weekend by clocking the fifth-best time out of 20 boats in Friday's time trial (7:01.983). Washington rowed the best time among the Fours (6:39.226) followed by Cal (6:45.867), Boston University (6:54.707) and Dartmouth (7:01.766).
 
After Friday afternoon's semifinals were canceled due to inclement weather, it was decided that the teams would race in finals on Saturday morning based on their finish in the time trial. In Saturday's Grand Final, raced in blustery and rainy conditions, the boats finished in the exact same order in which they finished the time trial the day before. Washington took gold in 6:59.449, while Cal (7:06.229) staved off a late BU charge (7:06.429) for the silver. Dartmouth (7:08.489) was in the mix with that first group and took fourth, while Penn (7:17.864) was fifth. Oklahoma City College (7:18.772) and Syracuse (7:27.452) rounded out the field in the Fours Grand Final.