Nuala Macfarlane

Photo by: David Kaplan

Photo by: David Kaplan

Photo by: David Kaplan

Photo by: David Kaplan

Class:
Senior
Position:
Varsity
Height:
5-6
High School:
Claires Court School
Hometown:
Marlow, England
Major:
Business and Marketing Education

PRONUNCIATION

2025-26 | SENIOR
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Eight - April 7)
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Served as one of three team captains
• Raced at all six regattas during her final collegiate campaign, including victories in three of her final four races
• Capped off her career at the 2026 Big Ten Championships (May 15-17), driving the 1V8 to a race win in the Petite Final after placing fourth in the opening heats
• Tallied a dominating effort at Lake Phalen during the Twin Cities 2K (May 2) as the 1V8 boat picked up victories in both the heats and finals
• Put together an impressive three-race performance at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18-19), locking down a pair of runner-up finishes alongside a third-place effort as part of the 1V8
• Competed in three rounds of action with the 1V8 crew at the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 3-4), placing fourth in the heats and third in the semifinals before wrapping up the weekend in fifth place in the finals
• Traveled to Virginia for the Rivanna Romp (Nov. 9) and closed the fall schedule by earning a 10th-place result with the 2V8 boat and a 13th-place finish as part of the 3V4
• Kicked off the campaign with a standout home performance at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 4), capturing race wins with both the 1V8 and 1V4 boats
• Earned fourth varsity letter

2024-25 | JUNIOR
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Four - April 15)
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in all six regattas for the Gophers during her third year
• Closed the campaign behind a fifth-place effort on the 1V4 crew at the Big Ten Conference Championships Grand Finals (May 18), Minnesota's highest result at the event, after finishing third in the heats
• Finished second with the 1V4 boat to end the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19)
• Picked up a race victory during the opening day of the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18) following a third-place result to begin the regatta
• Earned Big Ten Conference Boat of the Week honors after defeating both San Diego and Kansas at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel (Apr. 11-12) as part of the 1V4 crew
• Turned in a third-place effort on day one of the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 4) with the 1V4 boat before placing second during the final day of competition (Apr. 5)
• Helped the 1V8 crew to a fifth-place result at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10) before placing 18th on the 2V4
• Started the season with two wins at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5), claiming victories with both the 1V4 and 1V8 boats
• Earned third varsity letter

2023-24 | SOPHOMORE
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Raced in all eight regattas with the Gophers in her second season on the varsity team
• Closed the campaign by placing fifth at the Big Ten Championship (May 19) as a part of the 2V8 crew
• Competed with the 2V4 boat at all three races during the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) in Sarasota, Fla., placing third and fourth Friday before a second-place finish Saturday
• Won both 2V4 dual races against Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Placed second in a pair of road duals versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) and No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29) with the 2V4 crew
• Started the spring season by finishing second in the 1V4 race against Gonzaga (Mar. 10) from Chula Vista, Calif.
• Finished 16th overall as a part of the 2V8 boat during Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12)
• Opened the season with a pair of second-place finishes in the 3V4 and 2V8 at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7)
• Earned second varsity letter

2022-23 | FRESHMAN
• Competed in all six regattas during her first year with the Gophers, primarily in the Second Varsity Eight boat
• Raced into seventh at the 2023 Big Ten Championship May 14 as part of the 2V8 boat
• Turned in seventh and fifth-place results in the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively, on the 2V8 boat at the Dexter Lake Invitational Apr. 29
• Finished second on the 2V8 boat during the Big Ten & Big 12 Double Dual versus Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma Apr. 15
• Recorded performances of third, fourth and fourth in three sessions of the Big Ten Invitational Apr. 7-8 with the 2V8 boat
• Placed second with the 2V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa Mar. 25
• Began her Gophers career by earning a race title on the 3V4 boat along with a fourth-place result in the 3V8 boat during the season-opening Head of the Mississippi Regatta Oct. 1
• Awarded first varsity letter

PERSONAL
• Daughter of Jim and Anya Macfarlane
• Has an older brother, James
• Competed with the Under-18 England National Team and won in J18 England quad at home internationals
• Graduated from Claires Court School in 2022 where she received a rowing scholarship
• Spent time with the Claires Court Boat Club from 2018-22 and served as the vice-captain of the club
• Was a Henley Royal Regatta winner at the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup
• Enjoyed riding horses in her free time before getting into rowing
• Chose the University of Minnesota because "I have always been interested in studying in America and when I was approached to join the university rowing team, I thought this would be a great opportunity. When I spoke to the coaches and researched the psychology program, it became a genuine interest to me, and I feel very lucky to have this opportunity."
• Graduated from the University of Minnesota in the spring of 2026 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing Education