BOSTON, Mass. —The Catholic University men's rowing varsity eight has been ranked No. 13 in the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association/Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRCA/IRA) Preseason Poll.

The IRCA/IRA Coaches Poll ranks the Top 15 D3 varsity 8+s throughout the season. To determine the standings, the A&P committee has selected twelve D1/D2 pollsters, six D3 heavyweight pollsters, and eleven lightweight pollsters from across the nation, representing every region in Men's Collegiate Rowing, as well as all divisions.

The Cardinals currently share the 13th position with Rochester Institute of Technology as both programs received the same number of points (13). Tufts University was ranked No. 1 with 85 points in front of Williams College and Wesleyan University who tied at No. 2 with 82.

This marks the second season in a row that Catholic has been ranked to start the season. Last season, the Varsity 8+ was ranked No. 11 in the preseason poll and broke into the top-10 for the first time in program history after Week One of competition. In 2022, the team received its first-ever ranking coming in at No. 12 midway through the season.

Under the leadership of head coach Katie O'Driscoll and first-year Catholic coach Christian Bruegger, the men's varsity eights had a successful fall season to prepare for the spring. Most recently, the top squad earned fourth place with a time of 16:54.87 at the Head of the Occoquan in November. 

The regular season poll will be released weekly on Wednesdays through the end of the season.