88R19825 JRI-D
By: Hinojosa H.R. No. 1122
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The members of The University of Texas at Austin
women's rowing team secured a milestone achievement in the
program's history by winning the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Division I
national championships; and
WHEREAS, With a second-place finish in 2019 and third place
in 2018, the Longhorns had established themselves as strong title
contenders heading into the 2021 season; at the national
championship in Sarasota, Florida, Texas earned bronze in the
Varsity Four and Second Eight competitions, placing the team in
third with 60 points entering the First Eight finale; lightning in
the area forced a nearly two-hour delay in the race, but the
Longhorns were ready when the dramatic showdown finally got
underway; the team pulled away in the final 250 meters to cross the
finish line with a time of 6 minutes, 17.387 seconds, securing the
first national title in program history; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, Texas was undefeated and highly ranked
throughout the season, and the squad followed a familiar script
when it returned to Sarasota for the national championship
competition; the Second Eight and Varsity Four squads picked up
points in the early going with respective fourth- and third-place
finishes; in the First Eight race, Texas jumped out in front and
never looked back, clinching its second title with a time of 6
minutes, 10.733 seconds, nearly five seconds faster than the team's
nearest competitor; and
WHEREAS, Excelling with a true team effort, UT benefited from
the valuable contributions made by each member of the 2021 and 2022
rosters: Rachel Rane, Kaitlin Knifton, Francesca Raggi, Alexandra
Watson, Aspa Christodoulidis, Daisy Mazzio-Manson, Anna Jensen,
Susanna Temming, Lisa Gutfleisch, Elizabeth Romero, Katelyn
Bouthillette, Amber Harwood, Alexa McAuliffe, Izabela Krakic,
Parker Illingworth, Samantha Schalk, Hannah Medcalf, Maria
Valencia, Olivia Fogarty, Lanie Nitsch, Cassandre
Korvink-Kucinski, Marlowe Eldridge, Claudia Destefani, Etta
Carpender, Sophia Calabrese, Grace Holland, Kathia Nitsch,
Marielle Corbett, Caitlin Esse, Carly Legenzowski, Jane McGee, and
Nadja Yaroschuk; and
WHEREAS, These determined student-athletes were ably guided
by head coach Dave O'Neill, associate head coach Mary Lennington,
assistant coaches Nick Baker and Mara Allen, graduate assistant
Sara Neaves, and volunteer coaches Hanna Luft and John Graves; the
team also received support from director of operations Rachel
Sander, team trainer Laef Morris, and boatman/rigger Spencer Kales;
and
WHEREAS, By accomplishing the rare feat of winning
back-to-back national championships, the Longhorn rowing team has
distinguished itself as an emerging powerhouse in the sport, and
the members of the 2021 and 2022 squads may take justifiable pride
in their outstanding accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate The University of Texas at Austin
women's rowing team on winning the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Division I
national championships and extend to the players, coaches, and
staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Longhorns as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.