Women’s Rowing is off to a great start as The Heart of Texas races wrapped up Saturday afternoon in the Women’s open finals. Texas swept top victories across the board in the open 8+, novice 8+ and novice 4+ divisions.

In the open 8+ divisions coxswain Katie Betsill lead her boat including stroke Katarina Susac, Chelsea Burns, Audrey Springer-Wilson, Laurel McCaig, Olivia Nail, Taylor Dorsey, Kara Turner and Sara Walton to a successful first place finish in 3:28.20. 

Texas’ “B” boat lead by Kassie Budzik including stroke Taylor Parker, Jessica Smith, Kim Gorcyca, Victoria Bujala, Devon Clark, Rachel Smith, Abbey Wilkowski and Kimmie Winder took second just behind with a time of 3:30.26. 

The third-place boat led by Kenna Harris, stroke Brenna Coldren, Jessica Glennie, Melanie Eckert, Emily Jones, Heather Leighton, Kathryn Hemmert, Katie Trovato and Schyler Gilmour followed in third in the open 8+ with a time of 3:35.83.

Texas’s novice boat lead by Lauren Deschner claimed fifth in the six-team race with a time of 3:46.99. Deschner also lead another boat of novices to a second place finish in the open novice 8+. Texas held top three victories in this race with first place boast lead by Christine Young finishing 3:44:50 featuring, stroke Casey Timmerman, Rachel Smith, Laken Carleton, Katy Hemmert, Rachel Trent, Vanessa Vandenworm, Victoria Centeno and Carmen Hargis-Villanueva. Following in third with a time of 3:52.82 was the boat led by coxswain Teresa Nguyen.

Texas’s overall sweep continued throughout the day for overall top wins over Heart of Texas participants. The Women Longhorns’ victories will further build on their move into spring break’s annual seat racing, in preparation for their next scheduled scrimmage against Old Dominion on March 15.