Navy Lightweight Rowing Earns National Recognition as McNamara and Veluchamy Become IRCA All-Americans

The United States Naval Academy men’s lightweight rowing program added another milestone to one of its strongest seasons in recent memory when graduates Paddy McNamara and Nani Veluchamy were named 2026 Empacher-IRCA All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association. The announcement capped an outstanding spring that saw Navy finish ninth nationally while placing two athletes among the country’s elite rowers.

McNamara earned First Team All-America honors, while Veluchamy collected Second Team recognition. Both awards are the first of their collegiate careers and further validate the progress made by Navy’s lightweight rowing program under head coach Bryan Volpenhein.

For Maryland Sports Blog, the honors represent another example of Navy athletics producing nationally respected student-athletes who excel both competitively and academically.

McNamara Led Navy as Captain

McNamara served as Navy’s team captain during the 2026 campaign and was the emotional leader of one of the academy’s most successful varsity eight crews in recent seasons. Racing from the seventh seat, McNamara helped provide the power and rhythm that allowed the Midshipmen to compete with the nation’s premier lightweight programs.

Being named a First Team All-American is one of the highest individual honors in collegiate rowing. Unlike many sports where statistics dominate awards, rowing recognition is based upon:

• Performance in the varsity eight
• Team success
• Coach evaluations
• Individual achievements
• Ergometer testing
• Overall impact on the program

The IRCA Board of Directors selected McNamara among the nation’s very best after evaluating athletes from lightweight and heavyweight programs across Division I rowing.

Leadership also played a major role in McNamara’s season. As captain, he helped guide Navy through a demanding schedule that culminated with another appearance at the IRA National Championship.

Veluchamy Emerged as One of Navy’s Top Rowers

Veluchamy enjoyed a breakout season while rowing in the fourth seat of Navy’s first varsity eight.

Although McNamara received First Team recognition, Veluchamy’s Second Team All-America selection is equally significant. It places him among an exclusive group of the nation’s top collegiate rowers and reflects the consistency he showed throughout the spring.

His technical ability and power helped stabilize the middle of Navy’s varsity boat, allowing the Midshipmen to challenge perennial rowing powers throughout the season.

Like McNamara, Veluchamy earned the first All-America honor of his collegiate career.

Ninth in the Nation

The biggest accomplishment behind the individual awards was Navy’s overall team performance.

The Midshipmen finished the season ranked ninth nationally after competing against many of the country’s traditional rowing powers.

At the IRA National Championship on Lake Natoma in California, Navy battled through difficult heats before reaching the petite final.

There, the Midshipmen produced one of their most memorable races of the season.

Trailing Columbia University late in the race, Navy steadily erased the deficit over the final 500 meters. The crews crossed nearly side-by-side before Navy surged at the finish line to win by just 0.052 seconds, posting a time of 6:02.742 compared to Columbia’s 6:02.794.

That dramatic sprint demonstrated the determination that defined Navy’s season and undoubtedly strengthened the All-America cases for both McNamara and Veluchamy.

Scholar-Athletes Highlight Navy’s Classroom Success

The announcement also showcased Navy’s excellence in the classroom.

Alongside the two All-Americans, nine Midshipmen were named Empacher-IRCA Scholar-Athletes:

• Thomas Brunner
• Alex DeBenedictis
• William Fallon
• Andrew Foley
• Charles Higgins
• Paddy McNamara
• Andrew Miller
• Nani Veluchamy
• William Zuhlke

Scholar-Athlete recognition requires athletes to excel academically while competing at the highest collegiate level, making the honor especially meaningful at the Naval Academy.

What Makes an IRCA All-American?

The IRCA only began recognizing All-Americans in men’s rowing in 2021, making these honors relatively new but already among the sport’s most prestigious awards.

To qualify, rowers must:

• Race in the varsity boat throughout the spring season.
• Meet all institutional eligibility requirements.
• Be nominated by their coaching staff.
• Compete for a program in good standing with the IRCA.

Selections are then based on varsity boat performance, nomination ranking, coach recommendations, individual accomplishments and erg scores. In 2026, only 106 athletes across all divisions and rowing classifications earned All-America recognition.

What This Means for Navy

Navy has quietly become one of the nation’s strongest lightweight rowing programs.

The Midshipmen consistently compete against elite programs despite the demanding academic and military responsibilities required of every student-athlete at the Academy.

Having two All-Americans on the same varsity boat demonstrates both the depth of the roster and the program’s continued national relevance.

McNamara graduates after leaving a lasting legacy as team captain and First Team All-American.

Veluchamy also leaves Annapolis with one of the finest individual seasons by a Navy lightweight rower in recent years.

Their accomplishments should help recruiting while reinforcing Navy’s reputation as one of collegiate rowing’s premier programs.

Final Thoughts

Individual honors in rowing are earned through thousands of hours of training, teamwork and sacrifice.

Neither McNamara nor Veluchamy could have achieved All-America status without the strength of Navy’s entire varsity eight, but both clearly distinguished themselves among the nation’s best.

Combined with a top-10 national finish and nine Scholar-Athletes, the 2026 season will be remembered as one of the most successful campaigns for Navy lightweight rowing in recent history.

For a program built on discipline, leadership and excellence, the latest IRCA honors serve as another reminder that Navy continues to compete with—and beat—the nation’s best both on the water and in the classroom.