The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UCF (Scrimmage)
Rowing wraps up weekend scrimmage at UCF
02.23.2025 | Rowing
The defending NCAA Champions traveled to Orlando over the weekend to scrimmage against the UCF Knights.
ORLANDO – The defending 2024 NCAA National Champion Texas Rowing team hit the road to Orlando over the weekend to scrimmage the UCF Knights on Feb. 21-22 at Lake Pickett.
"We just wrapped up two terrific days in Orlando," said head coach Dave O'Neill. "The competition against UCF was very productive and a definite step forward for our team. This was the first side-by-side competition for many on our team, and they responded very well. We know there's a definite standard for us, and it was good to see people step up to the level we need. UCF proved to be solid competition, and they should have a good spring."
Texas brought three eights with lineups changing from Friday to Saturday. Friday's workout was a 3x2000m and Saturday's was a 4x1000m while racing varied from three eights across to five eights across. Stroke rates varied among each individual crew to maximize competition and productivity for each boat.
Windy conditions throughout the weekend added an additional challenge for all crews and coxswains. Following Friday's workout, the Longhorns went to Walt Disney World for a magical team bonding experience in the afternoon and evening.
"The trip to Disney World was a great experience. We feel that team building oftentimes requires shared suffering, but it's also good to share in a wonderful experience like this. It was a great trip all-around."
UCF's second-year head coach Mara Allen spent eight seasons as an assistant and associate head coach on the Forty Acres before landing the head job with the Knights. Allen helped the Longhorns win back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2021 and 2022.
Up Next
Texas will partake in a "rust buster" in Dallas with a two-day dual against SMU and Oklahoma on March 8-9 on White Rock Lake. It will mark the fourth-straight year Texas will travel north to scrimmage at SMU. The four-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion Mustangs finished 21st at last year's NCAA championships. The Longhorns will then open the regular season at the San Diego Crew Classic on March 29-30, which is regarded as America's premier spring regatta. Racing is held in Mission Bay Park on the shores of Fiesta Bay-Crown Point.
