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What it means to be a Longhorn: Gia Doonan

Doonan is one of 11 Longhorn greats selected for induction in the 2023 Class of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.

As told to Will Dehmel.

As surprising as it may seem, neither The University of Texas nor rowing were on my radar until freshman year of high school. While many Longhorns bleed Burnt Orange their whole life, my love came a little later. And it all happened because of rowing. Growing up in Rochester, Massachusetts, and attending Tabor Academy, I originally wasn't going to row at all. I was already busy enough competing in track and field and basketball, but my school advisor was the wife of the crew coach.