BOSTON – Four members of the Northeastern men's rowing team were recognized by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association with 2026 Empacher-IRCA All-American honors. Co-captain Julian Leonhardt was named to the First Team with Krystof Janac and Aidan Murphy to the Second Team while co-captain Edward Lopas earned Honorable Mention Status for the second straight season.
 
It marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that at least four Huskies collected All-American accolades.
 
In order to be named an "All-American", rowers and coxswains must meet all eligibility rules defined by their institution, have raced in their team's varsity boat for the current spring racing season, be nominated by their institution and the head coach must be in good standing with the IRCA.
 
Nominated student-athletes are then selected by the IRCA Board of Directors to "First Team", "Second Team", or "Honorable Mention" based on the strength of finish of the institution's varsity boat, the nomination rank within institution, and the coach's comments, individual achievements, and erg score.
 
All four student-athletes played pivotal roles in the success of Northeastern's first varsity boat in 2026. The 1V earned cup victories over No. 11 Penn, No. 6 Brown and No. 12 Boston University during the regular season before collecting the Huskies' first medal in the first varsity since 2015 with a bronze at the Eastern Sprints. Northeastern would go on to finish ninth in the nation at the IRA Championships.
 
The group was also instrumental in helping Northeastern earn the prestigious Rusty Callow Award, which is presented each year by the EARC to the crew that, in the previous year, best personified the virtues of "spirit, courage and unity." Awarded annually since 1963, the winner of the award is determined by a vote of the EARC head coaches.