Rowing’s Jensen honored as CRCA Athlete of the Year
### Anna Jensen Named CRCA Athlete of the Year
06.14.2024 | Rowing
Anna Jensen from Texas Rowing has been named the CRCA Division I Athlete of the Year, making her the second Longhorn to achieve this distinction in program history.
**AUSTIN, Texas** – The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announced on Friday that Texas Rowing’s Anna Jensen has been honored as the Division I Athlete of the Year. Jensen joins Fran Raggi, who earned the same honor in 2022, as the only Texas athletes to receive this prestigious award.
Texas head coach Dave O’Neill praised Jensen, saying, “For the past four years, watching Anna row has been a pleasure, and nearly everyone who has been on the launch with me has heard me say, ‘Jensen is really good’. She has won numerous races and set records, but what she and her teammates achieved this year was the most impressive. Anna’s dedication to the team and her ability to elevate her teammates brought out the best in her. I’m incredibly impressed and grateful to have worked with her.”
The CRCA Athlete of the Year Award, now in its third year, highlights the individual efforts, impactful actions, and remarkable achievements of a student-athlete over the academic year. This award seeks to recognize top performers in a sport where individual accolades are rare.
Jensen, a three-time CRCA First Team All-American, three-time national champion, and the 2024 Big 12 Rower of the Year, was pivotal in Texas winning its third NCAA Championship in four years in 2024. The Midland, Mich., native helped lead Texas’ I Eight to an undefeated season, winning every race in 2024. Under her leadership, the Texas I Eight has remained unbeaten in three of the last four seasons.
On June 2, Jensen led the Texas First Varsity Eight to a national championship in Bethel, Ohio, concluding the national regatta with a thrilling victory (6:09.920) to secure the program’s third Varsity Eight national title. Despite Princeton taking an early lead, Texas, powered by Jensen’s guidance, overtook them and maintained their lead for the remaining 1,500 meters, crossing the finish line with a half-boat length advantage.
