Texas Rowing Begins Season with Eyes on Fourth National Title in Five Years

By Luke Lawhorn

Reporting Texas

The University of Texas rowing team is beginning its chase for the program’s fourth NCAA championship in five years as the Longhorns prepare to kick off the season later this month. 

Texas’ schedule includes three regular-season meets before the Southeastern Conference Championship on May 11. The NCAA Championships will conclude on June 1. 

The three regular season competitions are against some of the nation’s top rowing programs such as Stanford and Michigan, both of which will face the Longhorns in Austin. 

Texas rowing head coach Dave O’Neill said the difficult schedule should prepare the team for the championships at the end of May. 

“(At the) NCAA Championships, we’ll see the best crews in the country, and we know we’ll be tested,” O’Neill said. “So, we want to go up against as many good teams ahead of time before we get there.”

The Longhorns’ championship last season made them the third team in NCAA rowing history to win three titles in a four-year stretch, joining Brown (1999-2002) and Ohio State (2013-2015). A championship title this season would make Texas the first team to reach the top of the podium four times in five years. 

But more than a title, the team wants to focus on enjoying the process. 

“Results are great, and we all want it, but we need to make sure that no matter what the result is, that it’s worth it,” senior starboard/port Sue Holderness said. “And so making every day worth it, so that way it’s a great year no matter what happens at the end.”

Stanford, which won the championship in 2023 and finished runner-up to Texas in all three of its titles, will visit the Forty Acres for the Longhorn Invite on April 1. O’Neill says their battles with the Cardinal are good for the team.  

“Stanford is the best competition—Some really great athletes, great program, great coaches. So we know that Stanford is going to be really good and bring out the best in us.” O’Neill said.