BETHEL, Ohio – Highlighted by victories in the Four and First Varsity Eight Grand Finals, No. 1 Texas Rowing captured its third NCAA National Championship over the last four years Sunday at Harsha Lake.
Texas became just the third program to win three NCAA titles over a four-year stretch, joining Brown (1999-2000, ’02) and Ohio State (2013-15).
The Longhorns totaled a program-record of 130 total points, three points ahead of runner-up Stanford (127). In a thrilling race from start-to-finish, UT earned the win in the First Eight over Stanford, the final race of the day, to solidify the national crown under light precipitation.
The Longhorns started off strong with its second consecutive national title in the Four. UT dominated from the jump and led the full race, cruising to an open-water triumph in 6:59.555. With the victory, Texas added 22 points to its tally. Texas finished over four seconds ahead of national runner-up Princeton, who crossed the line at 7:03.761. Stanford (3rd – 7:04.489), Yale (4th – 7:06.845), Tennessee (5th – 7:07.729) and Washington (6th – 7:14.657) followed.
Texas fought in a tightly contested battle in the Second Eight, posting a final time of 6:20.320 – just 2.16 seconds behind first-place Stanford (6:18.156). It is Texas’ highest finish in the II Eight since placing second in 2019. Third place Tennessee followed the Longhorns after clocking in at 6:22.830. Washington (4th – 6:24.898), Yale (5th – 6:25.776) and Princeton (6th – 6:32.828) followed in order.
UT closed out the national regatta with a thrilling victory in the I Eight (6:09.920) to claim the program’s third Varsity Eight national crown. Princeton carried an early lead through the race’s first 500 meters, but Texas quickly acquired the lead and didn’t squander it over the last 1,500 meters. Texas continued to build on its lead throughout the race, pushing its advantage to a half-boat length as the Longhorns crossed the finish line.
Stanford finished runner-up in the Varsity Eight with a final time of 6:11.804 followed by Tennessee (6:12.156), Princeton (6:15.556), Brown (6:18.030) and Washington (6:19.232).
Now in his ninth season as head coach at Texas, O’Neill totaled his third national title. The Longhorns have placed in the top-eight in all nine of his seasons at UT.
Lineups
I Eight: Carly Legenzowski (C), Mette Nielsen, Lanie Nitsch, Anna Jensen, Etta Carpender, Marg Van der Wal, Abby Dawson, Cassandre Korvink-Kucinski and Amber Harwood
II Eight: Amy Werner (C), Sue Holderness, Paula Becher, Rhiannon Luke, Allie Alton, Phoebe Wise, Parker Illingworth, Taryn Kooyers and Anna Garrison
Four: Janet Goode (C), Nadja Yaroschuk, Phoebe Robinson, Katherine Nordheim and Lucy Searle.
