PENNSAUKEN, N.J. --- The Jacksonville men's rowing team finished the 2025 season with a flourish, securing a program best ninth-place finish in the 4+ crew at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships.

"This crew represents JU on the national stage," Dolphins head coach Preston Weinard said. "All the athletes on our team have contributed to this success, and have pushed this crew to achieve this result. Finishing the season with a program-best result in the 4+ should keep a fire in our guts for even better results next year!"

The Dolphins opened the weekend as the first crew out in the Friday morning time trial, but they were ready for the challenge. Jacksonville raced in 06:11.316 to lock in a spot in the top semifinal bracket for a chance at the Grand Final.

In the semis, the Dolphins battled for one of the top two spots in their heat to secure a spot in the grand final. Jacksonville finished in 06:26.140, under six seconds shy of second place. With a fourth place finish, though, the Dolphins earned a spot in the petite final with a chance for a Top 10 finish in the country.

Jacksonville entered the final in good spirits and pushed through for a strong finish. The Dolphins raced in 06:23.540 to secure third place in the event and a ninth-place finish overall --- one better than the program record 10th place finish.

"It's a great day to be a Dolphin. The entire JU community is proud of these guys," Weinard said.

A veteran crew represented JU at nationals: junior coxswain Hannah Ratigan; in the bow seat, senior Nathan Fletcher; in the two seat, junior Ole Gruenert; in the three seat, junior Vukasin Resanovic; and in the stroke seat, junior Chase Ricci.

Head Coach Preston Weinard

"I am so proud of this crew! They absolutely raced it out there. They showed guts in the tough conditions, trusted each other every stroke, and attacked the whole 2,000 meters. I knew we would have a good start, but the real race was through the middle 1,000 meters. Coxswain Hanna Rhatigan executed a great plan, stroke seat Chase Ricci kept an aggressive and powerful rhythm for the rest of the crew to back up and throw down together. Very proud of each of them!"