No.1 Texas rowing captured its third NCAA National Championship in four years on June 2 with victories in the Four and First Varsity Eight Grand Finals. It was the first time the program won two events at the same national championship.
Texas and Stanford battled until the end, with the Longhorns totaling a program-record of 130 points against the Cardinal’s 127. The First Eight win over Stanford solidified the title.
“That was spectacular racing by all three crews, and I could not be more proud of this team,” head coach Dave O’Neill said to Texas Athletics. “They did something very special today, and it all started with our first team meeting back in August. I give them a lot of credit for buying in, doing the work and making each other better every step of the way.”
The Longhorns earned its second consecutive national championship in the Four with a full-race domination in six minutes, 59.555 seconds. Princeton finished as runner-up over four seconds behind Texas and was followed by Stanford, Yale, Tennessee and Washington. This win added 22 points to Texas’ final score.
“We had to reconfigure the Four earlier this week, and we knew it would be a boat that would row well,” O’Neill said to Texas Athletics. “Well, they definitely rowed well and raced with terrific power and poise.”
The Second Eight did not finish as hoped for Texas, ending the race just 2.16 seconds behind Stanford and tightening the battle for the crown. The First Eight, however, closed out the season and the Longhorns claimed their third Varsity Eight national crown after catching up to Princeton and obtaining a half-boat length advantage at the finish line.
“We figured if the Four and Second Eight could give the First Eight a chance, we’d be in good position,” O’Neill said to Texas Athletics. “That’s the way it should be. They wanted that responsibility, and they stepped up in a big way. That crew has been consistently good every step all spring long, and they might have saved their best for last. The entire field certainly brought out the best in them, and I’m really glad we rose to the occasion.”
Five members of the First Eight were named to the CRCA All-America First Team following an undefeated season that also included a Big 12 title.
In his nine years leading the program, this was O’Neill’s third national championship, and fourth consecutive year winning multiple national titles in the same academic year. O’Neill’s Texas has stayed within the top eight nationally since he took charge.
