No. 1 Rowing sweeps No. 11 Michigan on Lady Bird Lake

Saturday, April 15

Austin, Texas

8:30 a.m. CT

University of Texas

Michigan

No. 1 Rowing sweeps No. 11 Michigan on Lady Bird Lake

04.15.2023 | Rowing

The Longhorns won four races to sweep the Wolverines in Austin.

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Rowing swept four races against No. 11 Michigan in a showdown on Lady Bird Lake on Saturday morning. It marked the third-straight year in which the Longhorns and Wolverines squared off head-to-head in a regular-season contest and the second four-race sweep. UT won three of four races last year.

"We had a really good morning for us, and it we'd great to be racing again in Lady Bird Lake," said Texas head coach Dave O'Neill. "Huge thanks to everyone who made this happen."

Racing took place over a 2,000-meter course along the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail and culminated east of the Texas Rowing Center dock. Conditions were ideal for racing with good water and no flow and a two to eight mile per hour headwind.

"All of our boats raced well and were tested early," O'Neill said. "Michigan showed some good speed, especially their first eight. We had to push hard to stay with them and were able to maintain our pace for the full 2000 meters. Kate Knifton, our stroke, sets a calm and aggressive rhythm that really maximizes the full power of everyone, and she was extra motivated to race in front of the hometown crowd.

"Moving forward we'll be focused on getting faster in those priority boats, and we know there are some tough races ahead."

The II Four started the morning off with a dominant victory, jumping out to an early advantage and increasing the lead throughout the race, winning by open water with a time of 7:20.531 to Michigan's 7:47.253.

Texas' I Four added a second win with a mark of 7:09.706, besting Michigan (6:29.657) by 15 seconds to give the Longhorns the top-two Four times on the day.

A tight race between the Texas and Michigan II Eight's followed with the boats fairly even over the first 500 meters of the race. The Longhorns began to move over the next 500 meters and held a four-seat lead at the midway point. UT extended the lead throughout the final 1000 meters to win by open water, crossing the line in 6:22.844 following by Michigan in 6:29.657.

Knifton and the Texas I Eight closed out the sweep with a dominant performance, posting a time of 6:10.738 to top the Wolverines (6:21.922) by over 11 seconds.

Next up, Texas will head east to square off with No. 3 Yale and No. 4 Princeton in New Jersey on Saturday, April 22. The Horns will then race No. 9 Virginia in Earlysville, Va. for the final regular season contest before Big 12 Championships.

RESULTS
I Eight
1. TEXAS – 6:10.738
2. Michigan – 6:21.922

II Eight
1. TEXAS – 6:22.844
2. Michigan – 6:29.657

I Four
1. TEXAS – 7:09.706
2. Michigan – 7:24.926

II Four
1. TEXAS – 7:20.531
2. Michigan – 7:47.252

LINEUPS
I Eight: Rachel Rane (C), Kaitlin Knifton (Stroke), Susanna Temming, Anna Jensen, Etta Carpender, Sophia Calabrese, Samantha Schalk, Kelsey McGinley, Amber Harwood (Bow)