National Selection Regatta #1: Fast Times in Red Socks

Most of the OKC High Performance group arrived in Princeton early and got a few solid days of training in on Carnegie Lake before heading to Mercer Lake for the first National Selection Regatta of 2013. The regatta is the first stage of the selection process for the US National Team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships August 25-September 1 in Chungju, South Korea.

OKCNHPC faired well over the three days of racing and took the opportunity to show their support for the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy by wearing red socks.

The final of the men’s single was won by Craftsbury Sculling Center’s John Graves in 7:05.67 and Stephen Whelpley finished second with a time of 7:06.92. Potomac Boat Club’s Willie Cowles edged out teammate Matt Miller by just 0.17 seconds for third place, 7:13.68 to 7:13.85. Lake Samish Training Center’s Nick Trojan and Potomac’s Sam Stitt rounded out the final.

OKC’s Greg Ansolabehere finished the regatta in 12^th place overall with a 6^th place finish in the B final while teammate Jameson Harper ranked 15^th overall.

For the men’s pair and the lightweight women’s single sculls – National Selection Regatta #1 serves as a speed order opportunity.

USRowing Training Center’s Seth Weil and London bronze medalist Henrik Rummel, who posted the fastest time trial and won Friday’s exhibition race, returned Saturday to win the men’s pair final in a 6:36.11. Weil and Rummel crossed 1.5 seconds ahead of OKC’s Mike Gennaro and Grant James, who finished in 6:37.62. In third, Steve Kasprzyk and Max Goff crossed in a 6:38.25.

The next three USRowing TC men’s pairs finished less than a second apart. Ian Silveira and Mike DiSanto crossed in a 6:40.00 to OKC’s Nareg Guregian and Ross James, who clocked a 6:40.32. Tom Dethlefs and Rob Munn posted a time of 6:40.69.

After posting impressive results this week in the lightweight women’s single sculls, USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Kate Bertko did not disappoint on finals day. The 2011 world championship double sculler turned lightweight found her rhythm early and completed the course in an 8:02.90. California Rowing Club’s Kristin Hedstrom , who competed in the event last summer in London, finished second in an 8:16.19.

Riverside’s Hillary Saeger finished third in an 8:20.80, followed by Potomac’s Devery Karz, 8:24.73; Vesper’s Mary Jones, 8:31.24; and USRowing TC – OKC’s Nicole Dinion in an 8:32.62.

USRowing Training Center – OKC’s Kat Schiro and Chelsea Smith finished first and second respectively in the B Final for places 7^th and 8^th overall.

OKC athletes will be back in action in two weeks at National Selection Regatta #2.

Racing for Bill

Bill's friend and teammate Greg Ansolabehere

Oklahoma City National High Performance center athletes traveled to New Jersey last week to take part in the first selection regatta in the four-year cycle that will eventually lead to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The race took on a greater meaning for OKC rowers who took the time to remember their teammate Bill Schnittman who passed away in December.

Schnittman, a former University of Michigan standout rower, who had aspirations of competing in the Olympics, was tragically gunned down and killed in a murder-suicide on December 21st, 2012. He was 25 years old.

Bill was a member of Michigan's national champion rowing squad from 2008 to 2010. Soon after that time, he made the move to Oklahoma City upon graduating in order to train at the OKC National High Performance Center.

OKC Rowers Grant James and Mike Gennaro

The rowers decided to dedicate this first race of the year to Bill by wearing a unisuit created by JL Design with Bill’s own signature on the chest.  Special thanks go to Dre Gutierrez at JL for helping us make this uni to honor Bill.


To learn more about the William A. “Bill” Schnittman Memorial Scholarship, including 
how to make a contribution, visit okc-nhpc.org, email okcbf@okcbf.org or call (405) 552-4040.