The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
San Diego Crew Classic
No. 2 Rowing sweeps four races on first day of San Diego Crew Classic
03.28.2026 | Rowing
All four boats advance to Sunday’s Grand Finals.
SAN DIEGO – No. 2 Texas Rowing kicked off the 2026 season by sweeping four races on the opening day of the San Diego Crew Classic at the Fiesta Bay-Crown Point Shores of Mission Bay Park Saturday, advancing all boats to Sunday's finals.
"This morning was a terrific start to the race season, and all of us are faultless pleased with how things went," Texas head coach Dave O'Neill said. "Of course, there were some indications that all our crews were heading in the right direction, so it was great to see them race so well. However, today was merely the heats and preliminary races, so we'll need to step up another level for tomorrow's finals."
In Texas' first race of the regatta, the First Varsity Eight cruised to a first-place finish in 6:31.325 in Heat 1 of the Jessop-Whittier Cup Invitational, downing second-place UCLA (6:56.004), third-place Washington State (7:02.682), fourth-place San Diego (7:06.259) and fifth-place Wisconsin (7:11.876). Texas will race in the First Eight finals at 11:23 a.m. CT on Sunday.
In the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup prelim, the Texas I Four secured a first-place finish in 7:40.687, beating Washington (2nd-7:46.393), Cal (3rd-7:52.019), UCLA (4th-7:58.294), Washington State (8:20.275), UCSD (6th-8:25.722), Sacramento State (7th-8:31.940) and San Diego (8:35.053). The I Four will race in Sunday's final at 12:07 p.m.
Texas' Second Varsity Eight clinched a first-place finish in the first heat of the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy with a time of 6:57.305. UCLA (7:18.742) finished second followed by third-place Washington State (7:28.903) and fourth-place UCSD (7:50.379). The Horns will race in Sunday's final at 12:15 p.m.
The Third Eight won its prelim in the Carley Copley Cup, clocking in at 7:15.612. Texas finished ahead of runner-up Cal (7:24.513), Washington (7:27.521), UCLA (7:47.269) and UCSD (8:57.823). They'll race in Sunday's final at 1:27 p.m.
Lineups
I Eight: Amy Werner (Cox), Imy Grey, Lucy Searle, Ilva Boone, Maya Meschkuleit, Marg Van der Wal, Phoebe Wise, Abby Dawson and Rhiannon Luke.
II Eight: Bronwen Holmes (Cox), Katherine Nordheim, Leila Gaston, Chloe Driver, Amelia Gleed, Allie Alton, Savvy Jerome, Nike Utesch and Holly Davis.
I Four: Paris West (Cox), Daniela Thiermann, Giulia Orefice, Jess Colbran and Paula Becher.
III Eight: Evelyn Orsic (Cox), Katelyn Semien, Ellie Rodriguez, Elizabeth Najjar, Bell Ebben, Addy Smith, Bella Benke, Ioanna Asvesta and Alex Rollins.
Players Mentioned
