The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1 Rowing’s Searle, Orefice earn SEC weekly honors
05.01.2026 | Rowing
Lucy Searle was named SEC Rower of the Week, and Giulia Orefice was tabbed SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Texas Rowing's Lucy Searle and Giulia Orefice earned their first weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference, the league office announced Friday. Searle was named SEC Rower of the Week, and Orefice was selected as SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.
Searle and Orefice are two of six Longhorns to collect weekly honors from the SEC office this season, joining Marg van der Wal (SEC Rower of the Week – April 16), Nike Utesch (SEC Freshman of the Week – April 16), Abby Dawson (SEC Rower of the Week – April 3) and Leila Gaston (SEC Freshman of the Week – April 3).
Searle, a junior from Orange, Australia, spearheaded the Texas First Varsity Eight to a nearly three-second victory over then-No. 1 Stanford on April 25 at Redwood Shores, Calif. The I Eight clocked in at a flying 6:19.20 while Stanford finished runner-up in 6:22.10. Searle and the I Eight finished the regular season undefeated with victories over No. 1 Stanford, No. 19 Michigan, No. 24 Indiana and a strong San Diego Crew Classic field. With the win against the Cardinal, Texas surged to No. 1 in this week's CRCA poll.
Orefice is a true freshman from Lake Como, Italy, and competed in her second collegiate regatta at Stanford on April 25. Orefice and the II Four finished runner-up against the Cardinal, crossing the finish line in 7:18.00 – less than a second behind Stanford, who finished in 7:17.30.
Up Next
Texas heads to the 2026 SEC Championship on May 10 at Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Longhorns will race against No. 3 Tennessee, No. 13 Alabama and No. 25 Oklahoma. Texas won the inaugural SEC Championship in 2025.
Players Mentioned
