ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association recently announced its 2024 IRCA Athlete Watchlist. Nominated by their coaches and selected by the IRCA Awards & Polling Committee, Mason Banks of the Navy lightweight program and Matthew Lexa of the Navy heavyweight team were recognized on this exclusive list. Banks was one of 10 lightweight rowers nationally to garner this nod, while Lexa was one of 20 rowers in the heavyweight classification to earn this honor.

Banks has been a standout for the Navy lightweights throughout his first two seasons of collegiate racing as he has suited up with the first varsity eight in all 16 competitions, including at both of the Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championship events. For his efforts, the Westport, Connecticut native has taken home three medals, a pair of silvers for the V8's success at the 2022 Sprints and IRAs, and a bronze for the crew's effort at the 2023 IRAs last June. During this past summer, Banks teamed with fellow Navy lightweight Jackson Fuller (Class of '23) to represent the United States in the pairs event at the 2023 Under-23 World Rowing Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. After a series of races, the duo won gold in the finals holding off Team Italy for a 3.8-second margin of victory.

Lexa is a rower on the rise in the heavyweight program as he competed in all eight competitions as a freshman and capped his debut 2022 season with action in the second varsity eight boat at the Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championship. As a sophomore last spring, the Wynnewood, Pennsylvania native was on the water in all of the five regular season races and both postseason contests. After racing with the second varsity eight at the Eastern Sprints, Lexa moved up to the first varsity eight for the IRA National Championship regatta.

The 2024 season will continue for both programs as the heavyweights are set to participate in the Occoquan Invitational this Sunday, while the lightweights are on a bye this week before hosting a pair of contests next Saturday, April 20 (vs. Harvard and Delaware) and Sunday, April 21 (vs. Georgetown).