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.