California Golden Bears Athletics
Cal places program-best 19 men's rowers on IRCA scholar-athletes list.
Photo by: Anhtuan Hong / KLC fotos
19 Bears Named IRCA Scholar-Athletes
6/24/2026 10:55 AM | Men's Rowing
Cal Records Most Honors In Program History
The Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) announced its 2026 Empacher-IRCA Scholar Athletes on Wednesday, including 19 members of the California men's rowing team, which is the most in program history.
Two Golden Bears – Thomas Heerding and Matthew Waddell – earned the recognition for the third time in their careers, while Jeremy Beale, Austin Chen, Antonio Distefano, Evan Gold, Pablo Moreno and Tim Roth got the nod for the second consecutive season.
In order to be named a scholar athlete, rowers and coxswains must have met the following criteria:
**Second honor
***Third honor
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's rowing, follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalMrowing), Instagram (@calmrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).
Two Golden Bears – Thomas Heerding and Matthew Waddell – earned the recognition for the third time in their careers, while Jeremy Beale, Austin Chen, Antonio Distefano, Evan Gold, Pablo Moreno and Tim Roth got the nod for the second consecutive season.
In order to be named a scholar athlete, rowers and coxswains must have met the following criteria:
- Be in their second year or more of eligibility
- Competed in their program's top three boats during the current season or raced at the 2026 IRA Championship.
- Have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA through the fall semester.
| Name | Year | Hometown |
| Thomas Barbey | Senior | Berkeley, CA |
| Jeremy Beale** | Junior | Gwandalan, Australia |
| Johannes Benien | Sophomore | Kirchellen, Germany |
| Dan Bradbery | Senior | Oxford, England |
| Austin Chen** | Junior | El Dorado Hills, CA |
| Gennaro di Mauro | Senior | Sant 'Anastasia, Italy |
| Antonio Distefano** | Junior | Trieste, Italy |
| Nat Gauden | Sophomore | Wallingford, England |
| Evan Gold** | Junior | Palo Alto, CA |
| Thomas Heerding*** | Senior | Melbourne, Australia |
| Osian James | Sophomore | Cardiff, Wales |
| Pablo Moreno** | Senior | Sevilla, Spain |
| James O'Meara | Sophomore | Sydney, Australia |
| Tom O'Sullivan | Graduate Student | London, England |
| Tim Roth** | Senior | Berikon, Switzerland |
| Peter Spira | Junior | Buffalo, NY |
| Matthew Waddell*** | Senior | Pukekohe, New Zealand |
| Charlie Warren | Graduate Student | Windsor, U.K. |
| Alec Wild | Sophomore | London, England |
***Third honor
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's rowing, follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalMrowing), Instagram (@calmrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).
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