The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rowing’s Van der Wal tabbed CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist
06.11.2025 | Rowing
The junior SEC Rower and Scholar-Athlete of the Year is the second-straight CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist for Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Rowing junior Marg Van der Wal has been named a finalist for the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association's (CRCA) Athlete of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday.
A two-time CRCA First-Team All-American, Van der Wal was instrumental in Texas' 2025 SEC Championship and third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Van der Wal adds CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist to her long list of 2025 accolades, including CRCA First-Team All-America, SEC Rower of the Year, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, First-Team All-SEC and SEC Rower of the Week (April 16). Prior to the season, Van der Wal was named to the CRCA's Athletes to Watch list. Additionally, Van der Wal is the 11th Longhorn in program history to be selected to the All-America First Team multiple times.
"Our team would not have accomplished what it did this year without the skill, power, and effort of Marg Van der Wal," said Texas head coach Dave O'Neill. "Marg turned herself into one of the strongest athletes in our program's history, and she developed into a terrific leader and role model for everyone. Additionally, she is one of the highest academic performers in our conference as she earned the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the year. It is an absolute pleasure to work with her and watch her row."
Last season, Anna Jensen became the second Longhorn to be named CRCA Athlete of the Year, joining Anna Raggi who won the prestigious honor in 2022.
The Groningen, Netherlands, product, guided Texas to its eighth-consecutive top-four finish at the national regatta. Rowing at the six-seat for the First Varsity Eight, she helped the UT I Eight record a podium finish on June 1, placing third in 6:09.848. Behind her leadership, the Texas First Eight has posted a podium finish in six of the last seven NCAA Championships. In the final race of the national meet, the I Eight fought hard to clinch Texas' third-place team finish. Yale won in 6:06.138 followed by Stanford (2nd-6:08.336), Texas (3rd-6:09.848), Tennessee (4th-6:10.912), Washington (5th-6:12.538) and Brown (6th-6:14.088). The Longhorns concluded the weekend with 118 total points – the fifth-most in program history at a national championship. A veteran presence for the Texas First Varsity Eight crew, she was pivotal in Texas winning the first-ever SEC Rowing Championship after throwing down a clutch, come-from-behind performance to win the I Eight and secure the conference crown. Texas extended its conference championship winning streak to 10-straight while winning the program's 14 overall conference crown.
The CRCA Athlete of the Year Award, in its third year of existence, provides a unique opportunity for the organization to acknowledge and recognize the individual efforts, impactful actions and remarkable outcomes achieved over the academic year. The award looks to spotlight a student-athlete who was a top performer in a sport where individual recognition is so rare.
*a complete list of finalists will be added once the CRCA sends out its release
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