Despite its dominant undefeated season and No. 1 ranking, the Washington men’s crew team will have to battle to win one last regatta today and Saturday at the Intercollegiate Rowing Championships in Cherry Hill, N.J. A win for the Huskies would be their first back-to-back championship since 1940-1941 and 13th overall.

“We just want to do our best to represent our university, our rowing program and our alumni as best as we can,” coach Ben Fletcher said.

At the IRA championship regatta, the UW varsity eight will be going rowing against undefeated No. 2 Wisconsin and 10 other fast crew teams.

“There are a lot of very talented and very fast collegiate crews here,” Fletcher said.

Coming off a championship performance last year in the varsity eights, JV eights and open water fours, UW crews have had an amazingly successful season. The UW varsity eight is in the midst of a 16-race winning streak, going undefeated for the season while beating nine crews currently ranked in the top 20 of the coaches poll. The freshman eight is undefeated and the JV eight only has one loss. Despite their success, UW rowers are still grounded.

“We are hungry and humble,” Fletcher said. “We’re going do our best to live up to the standards of Washington rowing.”

The Wisconsin rowers had a successful season as well. After starting the season under the radar, they defeated No. 5 California by four seconds, No. 8 Stanford by seven seconds and won the Men’s Sprints on their way to a perfect season.

“They’ll be tough to beat,” program coordinator Bob Ernst said.

Similar to the Pac-10 regatta, the IRA championship will be scored on a point scale. Points will be awarded for finishes in the varsity eight, JV eight, freshman eight and four races, with the majority of the points being awarded to the varsity eight race. Whatever happens in the regatta, the UW crew teams are thankful for fan support.

“Thanks for your support and we hope to finish off the season strong,” sophomore Simon Taylor said.

[Reach reporter Zach Ruby at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]