In June, Texas rowing solidified itself as the NCAA’s newest rowing dynasty.
It took a time of around six minutes and nine seconds in the First Varsity Eight for Texas Rowing to secure the 2024 National Championship. The race resulted in a three-point margin of victory between Texas, with 130, and second-place Stanford, with 127. Texas became the third team in NCAA history to win three national championships in a four-year period, going back to back in 2021 and 2022.
Under Texas rowing head coach Dave O’Neill, the Longhorns have placed top-eight at the NCAA tournament every year. This season has the same expectation, but with a more experienced approach.
”Everyone on this squad has a better understanding of how to get there in terms of the day-to-day, the leadership, the effort and attitude that’s required within the team culture,” said O’Neill.
Ahead of O’Neill’s eleventh season with Texas, the SEC announced it would hold the first ever SEC Rowing Conference Championship. Texas joins familiar faces such as Oklahoma, Tennessee and Alabama as it makes the transition from the Big 12.
“We’ve done well in the Big 12, but now moving into the SEC, we want to carry on our tradition of conference excellence,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill also recognized the rise of Tennessee as contenders. The Vols placed 12 points behind Texas in June, earning the third overall spot on the podium. The face behind the success is first-year head coach Kim Cupini. Cupini led the Vols to their best NCAA rowing finish yet and she picked up the 2024 CRCA National Coach of the Year along the way. Cupini and O’Neill’s friendship dates back to when they competed in the West Coast Conference at San Diego and University of California-Berkeley, respectively.
“The one thing that has changed is the Tennessee program,” O’Neill said. “They’ve had a jump in speed coming off last year. The first year at the SEC championship, I think that’s going to be a hard fought battle for sure … (Cupini) has done well everywhere she’s gone, and so it’s no surprise that Tennessee is doing well.”
In addition to the rise of the Vols, the Longhorns lost key athletes like Anna Jensen, a three-time national champion with Texas. Despite this, O’Neill has faith that the team will transcend this.
“People step up into those leadership roles,” O’Neill said. “People grow up, they mature, they get better, and that’s really cool to be a part of that and see that. Every year is different, but I think we have a pretty good understanding of what needs to be done.”
