The Hobart and William Smith rowing teams will head to Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 11, to compete in the National Invitational Rowing Championships. The regatta is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Lake Quinsigamond.
 
The Statesmen are coming off head-to-head races against Navy and Columbia on Mercer Lake last Sunday. All three of Hobart's eights are ranked in this week's IRCA/IRA poll. The varsity eight, which is powered by Sam Hyman, Lex Lauer, Charles Watroba, Chase Sneddon, James Feeley IV, Nicholas Short, Sean Madden, Colin Mester and Aidan Vanek, is ranked 24th in the varsity eight poll. The third varsity eight is the Statesmen's highest ranked boat, checking in at No. 19. 
 
At last year's NIRCs, the Statesmen varsity eight finished eighth in a 16-boat field. The 3V8 finished third overall.
 
The Herons are coming off a strong performance at the Liberty League Championships last weekend. The second varsity eight, which was powered by Lizzy Whitney, Aubrianna Ryan, Syd Morrison, Olivia Helms, Lily Liflander, Nora Smith, Raya Schwartz, Emily Clark and Lily Keefe, grabbed gold medals on the Fish Creek, defeating Ithaca by 3.796 seconds.
 
This week, William Smith held at No. 7 in the CRCA Coaches Poll. The Bombers are one spot ahead of the Herons in sixth. This weekend's racing will feature nine of the country's top 10 teams.
 
Last year, William Smith finished 12th in the varsity eight race.
 
The 1V and 2V races have three heats each. The top 2 finishers in each heat will progress to the grand final, the third and fourth place finishers will race in the petite final and the rest will compete in the third level final. In the 3V8 races, there are two heats. The top three finishers in the heat advance to the grand final and the other three boats progress to the petite final. Hobart's fourth varsity eight will race in a finals-only heat.