In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NCAA Division I Rowing Championships, the Stanford Cardinal emerged as national champions with 129 points, narrowly edging out the Yale Bulldogs (121) and Texas Longhorns (118) in one of the most competitive title races in recent history. All three Grand Finals that showcased the Texas Varsity Four, Second Varsity Eight, and First Varsity Eight were decided by tight margins, with the Longhorns finishing in the top three across the board.
Texas opened the day with the Varsity Four, where the senior Nadja Yaroschuk led the boat to a third-place finish with a time of 6:59.548, Stanford that propelled themselves into first with a time of 6:56.532, and Washington cruised into second with a time of 6:58.598. The race saw less than 3.1 seconds separate the top three crews. Texas Four Crew; Paris West (Cox), Nadja Yaroschuk (4), Daniela Thiermann (3), Jessica Colbran (2), and Paula Becher (1).
The Second Varsity Eight, sophomore Rhiannon Luke and her crew clocked in at 6:17.213, good for fourth behind a tightly packed podium with Stanford sliding into first with a time 06:13.075, Washington cruises into second with a time of 06:14.931, and Princeton paddled into third with a time of 06:15.021. Despite missing a medal in this event, the crew kept Texas in strong team title contention. II Eight Crew; Bronwen Holmes (Cox), Rhiannon Luke (8), Katherine Nordheim (7), Phoebe Robinson (6), Alexandria Alton (5), Amelia Gleed (4), Savanna Jerome (3), Taryn Kooyers (2), Ellie Rodriguez (1).
The First Varsity Eight, led by the senior Sue Holderness, delivered Texas’s strongest finish of the day — third place with a time of 6:09.848, just behind Yale who sailed into first with a time of 6:06.138, while Stanford pulled into second with a time of 6:08.336. With fewer than four seconds separating the top three, the Longhorns showcased elite speed and composure down the stretch. I Eight Crew; Amy Werner (Cox), Sue Holderness (8), Imogen Grey (7), Marg Van der Wal (6), Ilva Boone (5), Phoebe Wise (4), Lucy McFarlane (3), Lucy Searle (2), Abigail Dawson (1).
While Stanford took home the championship crown, Texas’s full-team consistency was able to place all boats in the top four and cemented their podium finish to extend their streak of elite-level performances on the grand final national stage. Their third-place overall finish underscores the depth, discipline, resilience, consistency, and championship culture that continues to define Texas Longhorn Rowing.