The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#13 Michigan
No. 1 Rowing preview: No. 13 Michigan
04.11.2025 | Rowing
Top-ranked Texas Rowing hosts No. 13 Michigan at 8:30 a.m. CT Saturday, April 12, at Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Texas Rowing hosts No. 13 Michigan in a top-15 clash at 8:30 a.m. CT Saturday, April 12, at Lady Bird Lake. It's the fifth-consecutive year Texas and Michigan will compete in head-to-head racing during the regular season. The teams will compete in four events over a 2,000-meter course on Lady Bird Lake, racing in the first and second eight boats, and the first and second four boats.
"Tomorrow should be a good test. I think Michigan is faster than what their ranking indicates, so we'll be ready for some tight racing," head coach Dave O'Neill said. "Our First Eight is unchanged from two weeks ago, but they've made some good improvements. The Second Eight has a few changes in the bow four, and they've shown some good speed this week. Only one person, Katherine Nordheim, remains in the Four from two weeks ago."
When: Saturday, April 12
Where: Lady Bird Lake
Time: 8:30 a.m. CT
Results | Fan information | Dave O'Neill media availability
The Schedule (all times listed in CT)
7:50 a.m. – Race #1 – Texas vs. TRC (Exhibition) – Eights
8:30 a.m. – Race #2 – Texas vs. Michigan – I Four
8:45 a.m. – Race #3 – Texas vs. Michigan – II Eight
9 a.m. – Race #4 – Texas vs. Michigan – I Eight
9:15 a.m. – Race #5 – Texas vs. Michigan – II Four
9:35 a.m. – Race #6 – Texas vs. Texas (Exhibition) – Fours
What to Know
- The Longhorns will commence the morning with an exhibition race vs. the Texas Rowing Club at 7:50 a.m., followed by four head-to-head events against the Wolverines. Texas will be competing on Lady Bird Lake for the first time since hosting Michigan on April 13, 2023.
- Fans are encouraged to utilize street parking along Stephen F. Austin Drive, adjacent to Austin High School's Soccer field. From there, they can walk from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail to the Texas Rowing Center's dock (1541 W Cesar Chavez Street) to catch the action or spectate from the North Shore Overlook, directly next to the Texas Rowing Center. The Texas Rowing Center dock will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. After the dock has been filled, spectators will be encouraged to sit at the North Shore Overlook (finish line) or take the trail for a five-minute walk to the MoPac Pedestrian Bridge. Fans may sit underneath the bridge and are encouraged to not stand on the pedestrian bridge to due pedestrian traffic.
- Fans are also encouraged to come to the Texas Boathouse (300 Hearn Street) to send off the boats ahead of racing from 7:45-8:15 a.m. Saturday.
- Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs. There will be no concessions available.
Last Time Out
- The Longhorns wrapped up a successful opening weekend at the San Diego Crew Classic on March 29-30, winning three grand finals and finishing runner-up in a fourth. Texas went up against many of the nation's top teams this year, including No. 5 Washington, No. 8 California, No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 23 Southern California and No. 24 Washington State.
- The Texas First Varsity Eight had the first victory of the day in the Jessop-Whittier Cup Invitational, edging out Washington in 6:19.318.
- The Texas Four followed with a runner-up finish in the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup, recording a final time of 7:07.209 in a tightly contested race with Washington. Washington narrowly won the race in 6:06.145.
- In the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy final, the Texas II Eight clinched UT's second win of the day after crossing the finish line in 6:29.739 to beat out runner-up Washington (6:31.341).
- The Texas III Eight dominated the Carley Copley Cup final and won it in 6:44.655.
- Texas' victories by the I Eight and II Eight mark the fourth-consecutive year the Horns won those events.
History
- The last time the two programs squared off in Austin was at Lady Bird Lake in 2023. The Longhorns won three races, capturing victories in the First Eight, Second Eight and First Four, while the Wolverines were the winner in the Second Four.
- Last year, Texas traveled north to Belleville Lake, Mich., to take on the Wolverines. UT swept all four races for the second year in a row.
Boone, Holderness receive SEC weekly honors
- Senior Sue Holderness and freshman Ilva Boone hauled in weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on April 3.
- Holderness was named SEC Rower of the Week and Boone was selected as Freshman of the Week.
- Holderness and Boone helped the Texas I Eight win the Jessop-Whittier Cup Invitational in 6:19.318 at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic on March 30. Over the weekend, Holderness (stroke) made her First Varsity Eight debut while Boone (seven-seat) was racing in her first collegiate regatta. The Longhorns edged out No. 5 Washington, No. 8 California, No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 23 Southern California and No. 24 Washington State to capture the Jessop-Whittier Cup Invitational. The duo played crucial roles in Texas winning the first heat on March 29, posting a scorching 6:14.742 and obliterating the rest of the field by over 15 seconds. The Texas First Varsity Eight has now won four-straight Jessop-Whittier Cup Invitationals at the San Diego Crew Classic. Texas left the San Diego Crew Classic with three grand final victories and a close runner-up finish to dominate a stacked field.
Texas on Top
Texas remains No. 1 in this week's Pocock/CRCA poll following a dominant opening weekend at the San Diego Crew Classic on March 29-30. The defending National Champion Texas Longhorns have held the No. 1 spot since the final 2024 poll.
Pocock/CRCA Coaches Poll Rankings – Week 4 (April 8)
- TEXAS
- Stanford
- Washington
- Princeton
- Yale
- Tennessee
- Brown
- California
- Rutgers
- Virginia
- Syracuse
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Central Florida
- Duke
- Oregon State
- Columbia
- Indiana
- Oklahoma
- Dartmouth
- North Caorlina
- Southern California
- Washington State
- Gonzaga
Championship Pedigree
Texas has registered a top-eight result in each of the last nine NCAA Championship Regatta, including a top-four finish in each of the last seven national regattas. The Horns have won three of the last four NCAA crowns:
- 2024 – National Champion (Boat National Title: I Eight, Four)
- 2023 – 4th (Boat National Title: Four)
- 2022 – National Champion (Boat National Title: I Eight)
- 2021 – National Champion (Boat National Title: I Eight)
- 2020 – No regatta
- 2019 – 2nd
- 2018 – 3rd
- 2017 – 4th
- 2016 – 8th
- 2015 – 7th
Defending Conference Champions
2025 will be Texas' first season as a Southeastern Conference member. The Longhorns enter the season as a nine-time defending conference champion after exiting the Big 12 with nine-straight conference titles. In all, Texas won 13 of the 15 Big 12 Conference Championships held, placing runner-up in 2013 and fourth in 2014.
