Finding the Swing: Etta Carpender
6/5/2024
In rowing, the magic moment of being in perfect sync with other rowers and the boat is referred to as “swing.” Etta Carpender, a native of Denver, Colorado, and Sustainability Studies student, achieved her swing early on at Texas. Her journey as a student-athlete on the Texas Rowing team has been defined by a quick rise to success and a steady stream of remarkable achievements.
As a freshman in 2019, Etta earned a Big 12 Conference title, captured the San Diego Crew Classic Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy, and served as an alternate at the NCAA Championship where Texas came in as runners-up. As a junior in 2022, Etta rowed the five-seat in the First Varsity 8+ to capture her first San Diego Crew Classic Jessop-Whittier Cup, second Big 12 title, and first NCAA Championship crown—the year that Texas also won its first-ever National Championship title. As a senior and current graduate student, Etta has secured two additional Big 12 Conferences titles, a pair of San Diego Crew Classic Jessop-Whittier Cups, and another National Championship.
Like we said—Etta achieved swing in short order.
The sort of meteoric rise to success that Etta has experienced is something that every single student-athlete at Texas shares—a determination and grit that are not satisfied by anything less than excellence. Put a group of young athletes together who each share that hunger and the output is the dominance and prestige of a program like Texas Rowing.
Etta credits the achievements she’s experienced as a student-athlete to the culture of the program Coach O’Neill has presided over for the past nine seasons. “The thing that sets us apart the most from other teams is the people. The team is very excited to be here, very excited to work hard and everyone wants to succeed,” she shares. “Over the years that Coach O’Neill been here, and during the time that I have been here, he's recruited people that above all else want to be here, work their hardest, do the absolute most they can and whatever it takes to win.”
While Etta describes her typical day as a “grind”—which will include an early morning on the water, classes, and grueling workouts—she says it's her team’s camaraderie and shared goal of success that keep her going. That, and the support and resources she can rely on at Texas. “The coaches and facilities at Texas are also unparalleled,” Etta expresses with gratitude and pride. “They've played a crucial role in shaping me as an athlete.”
She also cites the facilities made possible by Longhorn Foundation donors, including the Texas Basketball and Rowing Training Facility and Texas Athletics Nutrition Center, as critical to her maintaining an elite competitive edge. “We are truly so privileged to have a world-class facility to train in and a top-class dining hall fueling our nutritional needs.”
The way that Texas travels and treats their athletes and the opportunities they make available to us [are] an experience like no other. As a team, we are so thankful.Etta Carpender
Etta walked across the stage to receive her diploma from The University of Texas this past May and finishes her time at Texas as a two-time national champion, four-time Big 12 champion, and four-time San Diego Crew Classic trophy winner. When asked what the highlight of her time at Texas has been, Etta says that beyond the athletic accomplishments and team camaraderie, it was racing at Henley Royal Regatta 2023 in the United Kingdom—one of the most prestigious international regattas in the world. While there, Etta’s boat competed in the Remenham Challenge Cup where they beat an under-23 national team from the Netherlands and fell only one-and-a-half boat lengths behind Leander Club in the semi-final, the British senior national team eight that finished fourth in the World Rowing Championships later that summer.
“Henley as a rower is the pinnacle of competition in rowing and I personally don't think I would ever have had an experience the way I did if it wasn’t for Texas Athletics,” Etta says. “Just the way that Texas travels and treats their athletes, the opportunities they make available to us…this was an experience like no other. As a team, we are so thankful to all those who made it happen.”
