No. 5 Rowing wins Clemson Invitational

Sunday, April 23

Clemson, S.C. (Lake Hartwell)

6:30 a.m. CT

University of Texas

Clemson Invite

04.23.2017 | Rowing

Longhorns knock off three-time defending NCAA champion Ohio State in the varsity eight final, go on to win the team title at the 20-team regatta.

CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 5 Texas won three "A" finals races and defeated the three-time NCAA champion in the varsity eight final en route to the team title Sunday at the Clemson Invitational on Lake Hartwell.

The Longhorns capped a tremendous all-around regatta with wins in two of the three NCAA Championship-level finals contested Sunday plus an additional victory in the third varsity eight final. Texas won the 20-team regatta, which included the likes of No. 4 Ohio State, No. 10 Virginia and No. 11 Wisconsin, with 130 points.

Texas started off Sunday's finals with one of the most impressive wins in program history, as the Longhorns won the varsity eight "A" final and defeated the event's three-time defending NCAA champion, Ohio State. UT led from start-to-finish and registered an open-water win in 6 minutes, 15.100 seconds while the Buckeyes took second at 6:21.298.

Washington State rounded out the top-three in 6:22.410. Ohio State not only has won the last three NCAA V8+ titles, but it also has won three of the last four NCAA team titles.

Texas narrowly trailed Wisconsin through the first 1,000 meters of the second varsity eight "A" final, but the Longhorns methodically chipped away at the Badgers' lead and passed them near the 1,500m mark. Texas earned 44 points with its victory in 6:36.489, and Wisconsin took second at 6:38.934. Ohio State placed third at 6:42.267.

Texas engaged in a tight race with Ohio State and Wisconsin throughout the varsity four "A" final, and the Buckeyes claimed a narrow win in 7:18.540. Wisconsin followed in second at 7:19.095 while Texas took third at 7:20.750.

The Longhorns added an open-water victory in the third varsity eight "A" final in 7:05.616 and a runner-up finish in the second varsity four "A" final in 7:38.664.

POST-REGATTA COMMENTS

Texas head coach Dave O'Neill

Today was a very good day, and I'm really proud of everyone on the team. We've put in a lot of work, and it's great to see crews race so well. This was a very important step for what we're looking to do this year and beyond, and we'll keep working towards our ultimate goal.

Our first eight is starting to click pretty well. We've made a big line-up change since the early season races, and all indications from training and this weekend's races show that it's working well.

The second eight has stepped up at practice and are starting to show some good speed. Once again, they had a tight race with Wisconsin, and that race experience will serve them well moving forward.

Both fours fought hard and had great efforts today, and I'm really encouraged by what they're doing. They've improved significantly the last few weeks and simply lost to some good crews this morning.

The novice eight was terrific. They looked sharp and skilled, and it was great to see them win in such style. Five of the rowers walked onto the team last fall, and it's impressive how far they've come this year.

Clemson Invitational
Sunday Finals
Varsity Eight "A" Final

1 Texas, 6:15.100
Crew: Kay Murphy (coxswain), Ljiljana Josic, Pippa Loveard, Gia Doonan, Milica Slijepcevic, Mariam Soufi, Alice Bowyer, Emily Froehlich, Fanny Bon