The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rowing ranked No. 1 in preseason Pocock CRCA Coaches, Junior Rowing News polls
03.12.2025 | Rowing
AUSTIN, Texas – Reigning NCAA National Champion Texas Rowing has been ranked No. 1 in the Pocock CRCA and Junior Rowing News preseason polls, both organizations announced Wednesday. It marks the eighth-consecutive year Texas has been ranked inside the top-four in the initial poll and 10th-straight time UT has garnered a top-eight preseason ranking.
The Longhorns have won three of the last four NCAA National Championships after winning the program's third national crown in 2024. Texas earned victories in the First Varsity Eight and Four while finishing runner-up in the II Eight.
Texas, set to compete in its first season as a Southeastern Conference member, has won nine-straight conference regattas.
Scheduled to open their season later this month, the Longhorns return a duo of First Eight National Champion rowers in Marg Van der Wal and Abby Dawson, who were both named to the CRCA's Athletes to Watch list ahead of the 2025 campaign. Texas returns Amy Werner, Sue Holderness, Paula Becher, Rhiannon Luke, Allie Alton, Phoebe Wise, Taryn Kooyers and Anna Garrison from the National Runner-Up Second Eight. Four from last year's National Champion Four return in Nadja Yaroschuk, Phoebe Robinson, Katherine Nordheim and Lucy Searle.
Texas opens the 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. Last season, Texas won three grand finals and finished runner-up in a fourth at the San Diego Crew Classic, picking up victories in the I Eight, II Eight and Four – the third-consecutive year that UT swept the three events.
Players Mentioned
