Interview with Coxswain Amy Werner: Hooked on a World Record and National Championship

On May 31, 2026, the University of Texas Rowing program's Women's First Varsity Eight crossed the finish line at the 2026 NCAA Rowing Championships with a first-place finish — and an NCAA and world-record time of 5:47.706. Backed by a first-place finish from the Varsity Four and a second-place finish from the Second Varsity Eight, the University of Texas Women's Rowing program claimed its fourth NCAA National Championship in six years, cementing the program's status as a dominant force in college rowing.

Steering the historic Texas Longhorns First Varsity Eight crew to victory was coxswain Amy Werner, whose voice and race strategy helped power the boat to a new benchmark in NCAA rowing history. Amy first began coxing at Merion Mercy Academy in the Philadelphia area. She graduated from the University of Texas this year and as of July 7, 2026, was announced as the coxswain for the 2026 World Rowing Under 23 Championships Women’s Eight. This summer, NK Sports had the opportunity to sit down with Amy to discuss firsthand her experience making history, bringing home a national title, and her coxing journey.

So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be hooked by some Texas horns as we delve into the voice that powered a crew to and through a monumental race.

Disclaimer: The Texas women’s eight record of 5:47.706 set at the 2026 NCAA Division I Championships at Lake Lanier is, in technicality, unofficial. Swiss Timing is the official timing service provider of World Rowing, henceforth times not recorded by Swiss Timing are rendered unofficial. The record is still considered a historic performance.

Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics

How Does It Feel to Set an NCAA Rowing Record?

NK Sports: First and foremost, how does it feel to be a part of the crew that set the NCAA women's varsity eight record?

Amy Werner: "Unreal. That race and this whole year has just been such a special year, so having such an exciting result feels so amazing because we put in a ton of work, so to be able to see it pay off and just have such a great day across the team, it was awesome."

NK Sports: Delving deeper and looking beyond the medals and the record, what did the result in that race mean to you on a personal level?

Amy Werner: "It really meant so much. If you would have asked me 4 years ago or 5 years ago if I thought I would even like be at Texas, racing in that tradition, I would have been like, you're crazy. No way. So, in that aspect I think it was a realization of how much growth I experienced over the four years. I just keep thinking about and coming back to the team as well and how this year was just such a fun team. It was just such a great culture and vibe, and I think it all came together because of that."

Recruitment Path to University of Texas Rowing

NK Sports: What was your high school experience coxing and recruitment path to Texas like?

Amy Werner: "My high school experience was awesome. I loved it. I'm right outside of Philly and high school rowing is big here. So, I knew coming straight in that I wanted to be a coxswain, and I was like, all right, I'm sure this is for me. Rowing was my first true team sport that I tried out for and committed to and in doing so I feel like I found such a cool niche. I feel like coxing is a unique role and I love that. So, I started with my high school, which is Merion Mercy right outside of Philly, and we rowed on the Schuylkill on Boathouse Row.

At the end of my junior year, it was Covid, so my recruiting wasn't the same as what is happening now most likely. However, I knew I wanted to cox in college, I was just figuring out: What do I want to get out of this? I knew I wanted to race and I wanted to compete. I wanted to go to a program where there are going to be people that want to be competitive and successful. I also wanted a really strong coaching staff and coaching environment.

The first time I talked to any of the Texas coaches, I was like, wow; this is different. I remember it was a random afternoon, and I popped on a call with the assistant coaches at the time, knowing nothing about Texas, and we spoke for an hour. My first impression was wow they love Texas; they love being here. I really liked that; I wanted to love my school and be that excited about it too. So that's when I took a trip down to Austin at the end of my junior year because I needed to see the place and make sure that I was going to like it. I went out there with my dad and met coach Nick, who's there right now, and got to see the boathouse. I remember seeing the names on the lockers and thinking oh my, gosh, I know all these people because I saw them on Instagram, which was so cool."

Inside the Record-Breaking Varsity Eight Race at the NCAA Rowing Championships

NK Sports: You mentioned wanting to go to a school where everyone was competitive. Did you expect you and your crew to be at this level of competitiveness this year? In other words, were you expecting to come out as fast as you did?

Amy Werner: “Everyone was posting quick times during the weekend, and we knew the conditions on Sunday were going to be fast. But we didn't go into the race looking to break a record, we just wanted to put up the best race we could, and the result took care of itself."

NK Sports: What do you think you said before the race that made a huge impact on the crew's performance?

Amy Werner: "Go right away. We're all fit, we're all strong, we can race for 2000 meters. Don't wait, we need to go, we need to move. Get out quickly."

NK Sports: At what moment in the final race do you think you and the crew clicked together and knew you could overtake the other boats?

Amy Werner: "I'm not going to lie, I feel as though in races earlier in the year we would target the 1K mark as our turning point. I had that feeling during this race as well, but when we came through the 500m mark and realized how good of a position we were already in, it was a different energy. I kept reiterating we're going to win, I told the crew we're winning this thing, nobody's touching us, let's win by a lot."

NK Sports: Is there anything you said during the race that you think made a big impact on the result?

Amy Werner: "I think reminding them it's not just about one individual person and it's not just about the nine people in the boat. We're racing for an entire team, and a big one at that. We had a lot of conversations this year about if we win the whole team gets a ring. So, there is a sense of pressure, and this was the first time I really felt that. However, I also felt ready to step up for the team. During the race I called on my girls to step up as well and reiterated do it for the team, do it for each other."

Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics

Race-Day Mental Prep for a Collegiate Coxswain

NK Sports: With that amount of pressure, how did you feel going into the race? How do you take care of your mental health before a race?

Amy Werner: "The night before we talked as a boat and said what we needed to, and then I had to go to bed and put it away. I was nervous, but I knew that I had to put it away for the moment. I also can't sit around before a race, because if I sit then I'm thinking. So, I like to go and weigh in and take my time doing that to let me step away from the trailer. I also usually go for a walk, one of the other girls on the team likes to walk so I'll go with her. When I get back, I always check the boat and make sure everything's tight, speakers are working, and I make sure my CoxBox is charged up. I turn on the SpeedCoach to make sure I have all my little squares set up how I like and make sure the mic works and everyone can hear me and hear me clearly, as that is very important."

How Amy Utilizes CoxBox Data

NK Sports: How did you use your CoxBox during the race or during training to maximize your crew's performance?

Amy Werner: "Well, during practice I really like to see the average split, especially if you're doing a piece alone. It helps me make sure that our average split is what it is supposed to be. It also helps me gauge how far we're moving on average. Where is our average at the 500m? Where is our average at the 1K? It helps me know that when we want to make a move during any part of the race, I know we can get to where we want to be, and we're consistent in relation to our average.

I also use the distance per stroke feature. I really love it in all honesty as it holds us accountable to truly moving the boat as much as we can. It helps us get a good feel for letting the boat run and making the most out of each stroke. During a race I don't tend to use that feature, instead I use the basic just row. I don't love to set it to specifically 2K distance as I prefer counting up, not down. It just makes more sense to me."

Lessons from a Coxswain Career at Texas Rowing

NK Sports: Reflecting on your overall collegiate career, what do you think is the greatest lesson you learned through all?

Amy Werner: "Being able to put myself in uncomfortable positions. For example, when I first started practicing in a boat I thought to myself, 'Wow these girls are really good' and felt a little nervous being around them. I had those feelings when I first came to Texas because everyone there is so good and so fast, so I had a little bit of imposter syndrome. I wondered if I was saying the right things or doing the right things, which was uncomfortable to feel. I had to learn to trust myself and trust that I was brought there for a reason. So overall I would say being able to put myself in an uncomfortable position and then make the most out of that situation.

I would also say learning to be resilient and making the most out of every lesson. I've learned so much from my experience coxing that I know, regardless of whatever I do next, I know I can be in a tough situation and adapt to it."

Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics

Advice for Developing Coxswains

NK Sports: What advice would you give to developing coxswains, especially the advice that you wish you had received earlier on?

Amy Werner: "I've actually really been thinking about that a lot this summer. I would say don't simply just try to be the type of coxswain that you think the rowers want. Trust that you know what to do and be true to yourself. Remember that you're where you are for a reason, you're in this boat, you're in this school, at this program because you're supposed to be. When you're who you truly are in the boat, I've found it helps you become a better part of the crew you're with."

What Makes a Winning Boat, Beyond Speed?

NK Sports: What do you think, aside from just speed makes a winning boat?

Amy Werner: What makes a winning boat is the ability to come together as one, and as a coxswain, you know being the one with the microphone and all, accepting the responsibility of being able to bring the crew together. It is important for everyone to be focused on the same goal, want the same thing, and have the same drive. That's what is going to make a difference between this is an ok boat of people versus this is an excellent crew."

What's Next for Amy Werner: U23 Worlds and Life After Texas Rowing

NK Sports: What are your plans with rowing post-graduation?

Amy Werner: "Right now, I'm at Princeton and I'm at U23 camp selections. Yesterday we raced and hit the standard, so it was very exciting. The final rosters have not been announced yet; they will be released sometime next week, so we'll see. If I'm selected, I'll be in Germany at the end of the month, so that's what I'm focused on right now.

At the end of September, I'm starting nursing school. I'm going to Drexel University in Philly for an accelerated 11-month program. After that I don't know what my relationship with rowing is going to look like moving forward, but I love it, I'm such a rowing nerd. So, I'm not ready to leave the rowing world. I don't know what that will look like whether it will be competing, practicing, or coaching, but I'm open to anything. Philly is also such a rowing city so I would like to stay here, or on the east coast.

Overall, I would say I'm not leaving the rowing world. I'll be here."