Senior Olivia O'Neill Commits to The University of Texas

St. Ignatius is proud to celebrate the extraordinary achievement of senior Olivia O'Neill, who has recently committed to joining the prestigious rowing team at the University of Texas in Austin. Olivia's remarkable journey began two years ago when she joined the rowing team as a sophomore. Despite Olivia's lack of experience and 5'6" frame, Coach Hayden recognized her immediately for tenacity and grit.

"We can teach athletes how to row, but Olivia gets all the credit for her relentless drive. She has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring student-athletes, and we can already see how her decision to dream big will impact others. Stay tuned as there are more to come." Coach Hayden shares.

Olivia's decision to become part of this powerhouse team exemplifies the transformative power of sports and education in the spirit of our school's commitment to holistic growth. Her choice to pursue a degree in the prestigious McCombs School of Business speaks volumes about her work ethic, time management skills, and intellectual competence. The Longhorns, coached by the renowned Dave O'Neill, have consistently secured top-eight positions at the NCAA Championship, clinching back-to-back National Championships in 2021 and 2022. In fact, Coach O'Neill recruited our own Coach, Patsy Miller, to Cal, among other SI powerhouse SI athletes, to assist Cal with numerous Pac-10 and NCAA titles.

We eagerly anticipate witnessing the continued success of this exceptional athlete and congratulate Olivia on this well-deserved achievement.