"We're stoked to win it," said Skey, an economics major who rowed on Harvard's second varsity eight, which placed third yesterday. "We don't have too many shots."
Because men's crew isn't an official NCAA sport, the IRAs are considered the national championship. But the competition almost always interferes with the esteemed Harvard-Yale Regatta, believed to be the nation's oldest sporting event, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.
Harvard and Yale usually choose to row in or get ready for their own regatta. Harvard last appeared at the IRAs in 1995, and 1897 was the last time Harvard and Yale rowed at the IRAs at the same time.
In October, Yale requested that the Harvard-Yale Regatta be postponed a week. The Crimson obliged and ended up celebrating the team title and victories in the men's varsity eight and the men's lightweight eight yesterday.
Harvard compiled 355.47 points in the team standings, overcoming Wisconsin (340.56), California (306.93), Cornell (299) and Washington (287.85). Yale (155.87) was 12th.
Locally among the 52 scoring teams, Princeton (229.22) finished sixth, Penn 13th (138.15), Temple 15th (108.91), St. Joseph's 22d (59.23), Drexel 30th (28.17), Delaware 34th (22.50), Lehigh 37th (19.71) and Stockton 40th (14.63).
"It's wonderful," said legendary Harvard coach Harry Parker, a 1957 Penn graduate who has guided Harvard to every conceivable honor and championship since taking over the program in 1963. "This is very satisfying for us. It's something unexpected, but it's nice."
A Harvard education was unexpected for Skey, who was a member of the Holy Spirit varsity eight that placed third at the Stotesbury Cup and nationals in his sophomore year.
"I always wanted to go to the Naval Academy," he said. "I didn't know that I'd be able to get into Harvard."
Skey, who graduates Thursday, was elected Crimson captain by his teammates this year.
"It was a great honor," said Skey, whose parents, Mike and Diane, made the 45-minute ride from Linwood to Pennsauken for the regatta.
Skey drew praise from Parker, a 1960 Olympian who has coached numerous Olympic teams and Olympians.
"He's a terrific guy and a very capable oarsman," Parker said.
Harvard didn't have any problems winning the men's varsity eight. The Crimson clocked 5 minutes, 43.41 seconds over the 2,000-meter course, followed by Washington (5:47.23), Cal (5:48.33) and Wisconsin (5:48.68).
"We thought if we won at all, it would be by the narrowest of margins," Parker said. "The crews here are so strong."
Oars and ends. St. Joseph's Prep graduate Michael Wallin was a member of Cal's victorious second varsity eight. . . . Malvern Prep graduate Bill Mongan rowed on Princeton's winning men's freshman eight. . . . The Princeton women's lightweight eight championship boat included Melissa Renny of Linwood, N.J., and Eileen Crawford of Wilmington.
The results
MEN
Varsity pairs: 1, Wisconsin 7:08.56; 2, Princeton 7:12.72; 3, Cornell A 7:14.23.
Petite varsity pairs: 1 UCLA 7:34.82; 2, Harvard 7:43.90; 3, Cornell B 7:45.51.
Freshmen eight: 1, Princeton 5:57.51; 2, California 6:00.42; 3, Harvard A 6:00.56.
Petite freshmen eight: 1, Cornell 6:07.09; 2, Oregon St 6:08.20; 3, Cal Davis 6:11.25.
Open four w/coxswain: 1, Minnesota 7:00.79; 2, Georgia Tech 7:03.09; 3, Wisconsin B 7:08.79.
Petite open four w/coxswain: 1, Harvard 7:03.19; 2, Tulane 7:06.31; 3, Cornell A 7:08.24.
Freshman four w/coxswain: 1, Hobart 6:53.65; 2, USC 7:01.08; 3, Dartmouth 7:03.96.
Petite freshman four w/coxswain: 1, California 7:04.96; 2, Rutgers 7:08.36; 3, Wisconsin 7:13.93.
Varsity eight: 1, Harvard 5:43.41; 2, Washington 5:47.23; 3 California 5:48.33.
Petite varsity eight: 1, Brown 5:50.34; 2, Navy 5:53.60; 3 Oregon 5:53.79.
Varsity four w/coxswain: 1; Washington 6:32.06; 2, Columbia 6:35.76; 3, North Carolina 6:36.48.
Petite varsity four w/coxswain: 1, St Joseph's 6:43.36; 2, Purdue 6:46.34; 3, SD State 6:46.40.
Varsity four w/o coxswain: 1, Wisconsin 6:35.27; 2, Georgia Tech 6:41.92; 3 Army 6:42.17.
Petite varsity four w/o coxswain: 1, Delaware 6:39.84; 2, Boston Univ. 6:44.17; 3, Princeton 6:44.71.
Varsity lightweight eights: 1, Harvard 5:54.94; 2, Columbia 5:56.93; 3, Georgetown 5:58.74.
Petite lightweight eights: 1, Navy 6:02.37; 2, Dartmouth 6:05.72; 3 Yale 6:06.50.
WOMEN
Varsity lightweight eight: 1, Princeton 6:56.12; 2, Radcliffe 6:59.24; 3 Wisconsin 7:02.31.
Contact suburban staff writer Ira Josephs at 610-313-8002 or ijosephs@phillynews.com.
