No. 1 Rowing dominates Big 12 awards - University of Texas Athletics

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Texas Rowing dominated the 2024 Big 12 Rowing awards with senior Anna Jensen earning Rower of the Year, head coach Dave O'Neill receiving his fourth-consecutive conference honor after clinching Co-Coach of the Year and freshman Rhiannon Luke claiming Newcomer of the Year, the league office announced Thursday.

The honors were selected by the league's head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own institution.

Jensen is the eighth Longhorn to haul in Big 12 Rower of the Year. The Midland, Mich., product rowed at the six-seat in the First Eight victory at the Big 12 Conference Championship, winning with a time of 6:08.714. She played an integral role in earning Big 12 Conference Boat of the Week on May 1 after a dominating performance at the Longhorn Invite. Jensen rowed at the six-seat in the I Eight in the Longhorn Invite, winning with a time of 6:00.969 to defeat top-ranked Stanford, No. 12 Virginia and No. 14 Ohio State. She also rowed at the six-seat in the I Eight at No. 9 Michigan, winning with a time of 6:08.10. Solidifying Big 12 Conference Boat of the Week honors on April 10 after a stand-out performance at the San Diego Crew Classic, Jensen rowed at the six-seat in the First Eight at the 2024 San Diego Crew Classic, finishing first in heats (6:27.626) and the final (6:23.272) to win the Jessop-Whitter Cup Invitational.

O'Neill was named Co-Big 12 Coach of the Year, tallying his fourth-straight conference honor and his eighth in nine successful seasons with the Longhorns. He led Texas to its ninth sweep in a row at the Big 12 Championship on May 19. This season, the Longhorns recorded three boat trophies at the San Diego Crew Classic, swept No. 9 Michigan for the second-consecutive year and picked up three victories at the Longhorn Invite.

Luke is the fifth Longhorn in program history to be named the Newcomer of the Year after helping Texas' II Eight to four victories this season. The freshman from Henley-on-Thames, England, was part of the crew that earned Big 12 Boat of the Week after a win over then-No. 9 Michigan by open water. She also helped UT to the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy against competition from California, Washington and Washington State.

Up next, the Longhorns gear up the 2024 NCAA Championships in Bethel, Ohio, on May 31-June 2. All three days will be available to stream on the NCAA's website.

Big 12 Rower of the Year (Texas All-Time)

2024 – Anna Jensen

2023 – Kaitlin Knifton

2022 – Francesca Raggi

2021 – Alex Watson

2019 – Milica Slijepcevic

2018 – Emily Froehlich

2017 – Gia Doonan

2015 – Gia Doonan

2012 – Laurel McCaig

Big 12 Coach of the Year (Texas All-Time)

2024 – Dave O'Neill