ITHACA, N.Y. – The accolades recently rolled in for the Ithaca College men's rowing team as they earned the Liberty League's top honors as the Bombers were named Crew of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year, while placing five student-athletes on the All-Liberty League teams.
 
The Ithaca Varsity Eight was selected as the Liberty League Crew of the Year after capturing the conference championship earlier this month. The Bombers posted the fastest time of the regatta in the Varsity 8+ grand final, clocking a 6:23.50 and winning by more than eight seconds to secure the program's third consecutive league title.
 
Head coach Justin Stangel and assistant coach Jake Lentz were voted the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the third straight season. Ithaca won the V8+ by finishing eight seconds ahead of the field with a time of 6:23.50 to claim the 2026 crown and earn the league's automatic bid to the 2026 IRA Championship. They followed that up with victories in the Second Varsity Eight and the Open Four races. In the 2V8+, Ithaca posted a dominant 10-second victory, crossing the finish line in 6:41.980. In the Open 4+, the Bombers jumped out early and maintained a boat-length advantage throughout the race and clocked a time of 7:25.431 to win by nine seconds.
 
In addition to the major awards, five Bombers earned All-Liberty League recognition for their performances throughout the season. First year Jake Patterson (coxswain), junior Rhys Pellaton and senior Bryce Williston earned places on the All-Liberty League First Team. Teammates Andrew Cheely and Liam Dickey would earn spots on the Second Team.
 
The 2025-26 campaign has also featured standout results throughout the year, including a victory at the Head of the Fish Regatta, a third-place finish at the Head of the Genesee, and a top-four showing at the Remley Cup. Ithaca's success at the Liberty League Championship secured the program's automatic bid to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship, where the Bombers will compete against the nation's top crews to close out the season. The IRA Championships begin on Friday, May 29 and will conclude on Saturday in Sacramento, California.

2026 MEN'S ROWING AWARDS
Crew of the Year: Varsity Eight, Ithaca
Coaching Staff of the Year: Ithaca
 
First-Team All-Liberty League
Jake Patterson, FY, Ithaca (coxswain)
Rhys Pellaton, Jr., Ithaca
Bryce Williston, Sr., Ithaca
Riley McMichael, Sr., RIT
Grant Steinberger, Sr., Skidmore
Sam van Adrichem Boogaert, Jr., Skidmore
Chris Augustine, Sr., St. Lawrence
Wolfgang Bodge, Jr., Union
 
Second-Team All-Liberty League
Andrew Cheely, So., Ithaca
Liam Dickey, So., Ithaca
Nicholas Staley, Sr., RIT
Hayden Harlow, Jr., Skidmore (coxswain)
Thomas du Four, Sr., Skidmore
Cameron Kennedy, Sr., St. Lawrence
Stuart Livingston, Jr., Union