The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rowing signs 15 on National Signing Day
11.15.2024 | Rowing
The reigning NCAA National Champions add 15 signees to their 2025 recruiting class.
AUSTIN, Texas – Head coach Dave O'Neill and the 2024 NCAA Champion Texas Rowing program announced the signing of 15 new Longhorns on National Signing Day. The decorated class includes Maisy Ballantyne, Annika Bliven, Olivia Branch, Lulu Burney, Leila Gaston, Erin Kirby, Reese McGeary, Elizabeth Najjar, Giulia Orefice, Lizzy Reid, Lila Resnick, Addy Smith, Claire Uiterwyk, Nike Utesch and Maddie Wilson.
The recruiting class features student-athletes from seven different states within the U.S. (California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas) and five different countries (United States, Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy).
"We have another impressive recruiting class heading our way next year, and no doubt they'll have a terrific impact for years to come. They come from all over the world, and they have already done some impressive things in our sport," said head coach Dave O'Neill. "Of course, their development and consistent improvement is what matters most, and I look forward to working with them here at Texas. I credit our recruiting coordinator, Nick Baker, and our entire staff for their tireless efforts in building these relationships and showcasing our program. We truly have something special here, and it's great to see top athletes in the world ready to join our team."
Maisy Ballantyne
Hometown – San Francisco, Calif.
High School – San Francisco Waldorf High School
Rowing Club – Marin Rowing Association
Prior to Texas – Won the Women's 8+ at 2023 USRowing Youth Nationals … member of the 2023 & 2024 US U19 National Team … finished third in Women's 8+ at 2024 USRowing Youth Nationals.
Annika Bliven
Hometown – Austin, Texas
High School – Westwood High School
Rowing Club – Austin Rowing Club
Prior to Texas – Placed silver in the women's U17 4+ at the Head of Charles 2022 … won gold in the women's U19 4+ at Central Youth Regionals 2024 … competed in the U19 women's 4+ at Youth Nationals.
Olivia Branch
Hometown – Austin, Texas
High School – Bowie High School
Rowing Club – Austin Rowing Club
Prior to Texas – third-place in the 2024 Summer Nationals in the Youth 2-… won gold in the 2024 Central Regional Championships in the Youth 4+ … placed fourth in the Youth 4+ at the 2024 Head of the Hooch … is a fourth generation Longhorn.
Lulu Burney
Hometown – Melbourne, Australia
High School – Melbourne Girls Grammar School
Rowing Team/Club – Melbourne Girls Grammar School; Melbourne University Boat Club
Prior to Texas – Member of the 2024 Under 19 Australian Rowing Team (Women's Coxed Four) … won bronze in the Schoolgirl at the 2024 Australian Rowing Championships.
Leila Gaston
Hometown – Sydney, Australia
High School – St. Catherine's School
Rowing Team/Club – St. Catherine's School; UTS Haberfield Rowing Club
Prior to Texas – Won gold at the 2024 Australian National Rowing Championships in the Schoolgirl 8+, 4+ and U19 8+...won NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River...competed at Henley Royal Regatta.
Erin Kirby
Hometown – Nutley, N.J.
High School – Nutley High School
Rowing Club – Nereid Boat Club
Prior to Texas – Placed third at 2024 US Nationals in the coxed Four … finished sixth at Head of the Charles in the coxed Quad.
Reese McGeary
Hometown – Pittsburgh, Penn.
Club Team – Three Rivers Rowing Association
Prior to Texas – Placed silver three times in the Women's U15, U16, and U17 1x at USRowing Youth Nationals... held four concept2 world records in 2022.
Elizabeth Najjar
Hometown – Mississauga, Canada
Rowing Club – Don Rowing Club
Prior to Texas – Member of the 2024 Under 19 Canadian Rowing Team (Women's Double) … won gold at 2024 Canadian National Rowing Championships in Junior Women's Single … won gold at Head of the Charles 2023 in Youth Women's Double.
Giulia Orefice
Hometown – Como, Italy
High School – Liceo Teresa Ciceri
Rowing Club – Canottieri Moltrasio
Prior to Texas – Member of the U19 European and World Rowing team for three years, winning one gold and earning one silver and one bronze at the World Championships … finished with three silvers and one bronze at the European Championships … picked up a bronze at the Coupe de la Jeunesse … 10x National Champion.
Lizzy Reid
Hometown – Darien, Conn.
High School – Darien High School
Rowing Club – Greenwich Crew
Prior to Texas – Placed third in the 8+ at the 2024 Head of the Charles … finished fifth in the Women's 8 at 2024 USRowing Youth Nationals … finished third in the U17 Women's 8+ at 2023 USRowing Youth Nationals
Lila Resnick
Hometown – Pelham, N.Y.
High School – Pelham Memorial High School
Rowing Club – Pelham Community Rowing Association
Prior to Texas – Three-year captain of PCRA … New York State Champion … Youth Nationals A Final Competitor.
Addy Smith
Hometown – Philadelphia, Penn.
High School – Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Rowing Team – Mount Saint Joseph Academy Crew
Prior to Texas – Won gold in the Varsity Eight at the 2024 Stotesbury Cup Regatta … top scholastic finisher in the Eight at both the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships and the Head of the Charles 2023.
Claire Uiterwyk
Hometown – Lyme, N.H.
High School – Hanover High School
Rowing Team/Club – Hanover High School; Upper Valley Rowing Foundation
Prior to Texas – High School Rowing Captain … competitive swimmer since age 5 … rowed at CRI Summer Competitive team in 2024.
Nike Utesch
Hometown – Hamburg, Germany
High School – Marion Dohnhoff Gymnasium
Rowing Club – Der Hamburger und Germania Ruderclub
Prior to Texas – Won gold at the 2023 Baltic Cup (500m and 2000m distance) in the Straight Four …
won Gold in the U19 coxed four at the German championships 2023 … won silver in the U19 Straight Four and the U19 Eight at the 2024 German Championships.
Maddie Wilson
Hometown – Manhattan Beach, Calif.
High School – Chadwick School
Rowing Club – Marina Aquatic Center
Prior to Texas – Twice coxed the top 8+ and top 4+ at the Southwest Regional Championships … coxed the top 4+ at Youth Nationals in 2023.
