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.

On to the Semis: Bertko and Dinion First in Heats

The first day of racing at the 2013 National Selection Regatta #1 is complete and semifinals are set for tomorrow morning on Mercer Lake with the top four crews of each heat advancing this evening.

After posting the fastest time of the morning time trials, Craftsbury Sculling Center’s John Graves won the first heat of the men’s single sculls with a time of 7:12.924. Potomac Boat Club took the second and third-place slots with Matt Miller in a 7:16.334 and Beijing Olympian Sam Stitt in a 7:18.322. Penn A.C. Rowing Association’s Justin Keen rounded out the top four with a time of 7:19.728. USRowing Training Center - OKC's Jameson Harper finished in 5th place, failing to advance and will race in the C Final tomorrow morning.

In the second race, Potomac’s Willie Cowles clocked the fastest time with a 7:15.401, finishing 2.6 seconds ahead of USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Glenn Ochal, who finished in a 7:18.058. Craftsbury’s Ben Dann came third in a 7:19.293, with Potomac’s Joe Ledvina fourth in a 7:22.348.

Heat three saw Lake Samish Training Center’s Nick Trojan win with the fastest time of the men’s singles. Trojan posted a 7:08.330 to Craftsbury’s Stephen Whelpley, who clocked a 7:10.680. GMS Rowing Center’s Ricky Holak finished in a 7:12.963, with USRowing TC – OKC’s Greg Ansolabehere fourth in a 7:13.626. Greg will race tomorrow morning for a spot in Saturday's Final A.

USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Kate Bertko won the time trial of the lightweight women’s single sculls Thursday morning, and then returned to post the fastest time of the afternoon heats. Bertko, won represented the U.S. in the women’s double at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, won the first of three heats in a 7:52.509. Vesper’s Mary Jones, Riverside’s Mary Foster and Riverside’s Laurissa Gulich rounded out the top four.

CRC’s Kristin Hedstrom won the second heat in an 8:02.716, followed by Potomac’s Devery Karz  in an 8:04.617. USRowing TC – OKC’s Kathryn Schiro crossed third in an 8:20.678, with Riverside’s Cornelia Willis fourth in an 8:23.696.

In the last race of the evening, USRowing TC – OKC’s Nicole Dinion won in an 8:03.993. Riverside’s Hillary Saeger posted an 8:05.264, followed by USRowing TC – OKC’s Chelsea Smith in an 8:08.747 and CRC’s Michaela Copenhaver in an 8:14.259. All four OKC lightweight women will race tomorrow morning in the semi-finals.

The winners of the men’s and women’s single will earn the right to compete at one or both of the scheduled World Rowing Cup events and, if he or she finishes in the top four or top half of the field, earn a berth on the team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships August 25-September 1 in Chungju, South Korea.

Time Trials Breeze by at National Selection Regatta

Glenn Ochal

Time trials are complete following this morning's racing at the first National Selection Regatta of 2013. OKC High Performance athletes were faced with some familiar windy conditions when they arrived to complete the 1,900-meter course on Lake Mercer. The top 18 crews in each boat class advanced to the evening heats.

In the men’s single, John Graves posted the fastest time of the 28 entries with a 6:46.565. Rowing under Craftsbury Sculling Center, Graves competed in the lightweight men’s single at the 2009 and 2010 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. USRowing Training Center- OKC's Glenn Ochal finished second in 6:47.024. Teammates Jameson Harper and Greg Ansolabehere finished in 12th and 16th place respectively, both advancing to this evening's heats. Blaise Didier failed to advance by placing 20th and will race in the D Final tomorrow morning.

Competing in a field of 19 entries, USRowing Training Center – Princeton’s Eleanor Logan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) won the time trial of the women’s single with a time of 7:23.393. The two-time Olympic women’s eight gold medalist won bronze in the women’s single last month at the 2013 Samsung World Cup I in Australia.

The winners of the two selection events will earn the right to compete at one or both of the scheduled World Rowing Cup events and, if he or she finishes in the top four or top half of the field, earn a berth on the team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships August 25-September 1 in Chungju, South Korea.

In the first speed order event of the morning, the USRowing Training Center men’s pair entry of Seth Weil and London bronze medalist Henrik Rummel posted the fastest time of 6:14.336. They were followed by USRowing Training Center - OKC's entry of Mike Gennaro and Grant James in 6:16.113. OKC's Nareg Guregian and Ross James finished in 6th place while London Olympians Tom Peszek and David Banks finished in 7th place.

USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Kate Bertko won the time trial of the lightweight women’s single sculls. Bertko, won represented the U.S. in the women’s double at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, finished with a time of 7:30.362. Nicole Dinion finished 4th in 7:51.379, Kat Schiro finished in 8th place in 8:01.306 followed closely by Chelsea Smith in 9th position in 8:01.811. All four women will race in this evening's heats for a spot in the semi finals.

On the men’s side, Craftsbury Sculling Center’s Hugh McAdam (Philadelphia, Pa.) won the lightweight men’s single with a 6:56.913.

Racing continues tonight at 5:30 p.m. with heats. Semifinals will take place Friday morning beginning at 7:30 a.m., with A and B finals scheduled for Saturday morning. For more information including race schedule and results visit www.usrowing.org.

OKC Rowers Head to New Jersey: NSR 1 Preview

Rowers from the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center are in West Windsor, New Jersey this week for the first senior team selection regatta for the 2013 season.

More than 100 athletes from 22 clubs across the country are registered to participate in two selection events – the men’s and women’s single sculls, and four speed order events – the lightweight men’s and women’s single sculls, men’s double sculls and men’s pair. 

The winners of the two selection events will earn the right to compete at one or both of the scheduled World Rowing Cup events and, if he or she finishes in the top four or top half of the field, earn a berth on the team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships August 25-September 1 in Chungju, South Korea.

Among the entries in the men’s single event are USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City’s Glenn Ochal who won bronze medals in the men’s four in London last summer. He'll be joined by OKC teammate's Greg Ansolabehere and Jameson Harper. Harper, a 2012 graduate of University of Massachusetts - Amherst will be competing in his first National Selection Regatta. In addition, the men’s single will see USRowing TC – OKC’s Blaise Didier, who finished sixth in the men’s pair with coxswain at the 2012 World Rowing Senior and Junior Championships in Bulgaria.

Eight men’s pairs are entered including USRowing Training Center - Oklahoma City's David Banks, Ross James and Grant James – all members of the London men’s eight. Also rowing in the event is USRowing TC – Oklahoma City’s Nareg Guregian who finished eighth in the men’s eight at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, USRowing TC – Oklahoma City’s Tom Peszek, who finished eighth in the men’s pair in London, and 2012 Olympic alternate from USRowing TC – Oklahoma City Mike Gennaro, who won gold in the 2011 under 23 men’s eight and gold in the men’s eight and pair at the 2011 Pan American Games.

There are 17 women entered in the lightweight women’s single sculls event. Four of the entries are currently training at the USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City including Nicole Dinion, who won bronze in the lightweight women’s quad at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, Chelsea Smith, who finished fourth at the 2012 World Rowing Senior and Junior Championships and Kate Bertko, who finished ninth in the women’s double at the 2011 World Rowing Championships. Bertko, who also competed at the 2009 and 2010 World Rowing Championships in open events, will be competing for the first time as a lightweight. She recently set the Indoor World Record for Lightweight Women's 6K on the Concept 2 ergometer in March in a time of 22:06.3. Also competing for USRowing Training Center - OKC will be Kat Schiro who competed in the Lightweight Women's Quad at the 2011 Under 23 World Rowing Championships.

Racing begins tomorrow morning with time trials and continues with heats on Thursday evening. Semifinals will take place Friday morning, with A and B finals scheduled for Saturday morning. For more information including tentative race schedule and directions to Mercer Lake in West Windsor, visit www.usrowing.org. For a complete list of entries, visit https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/entries/index.jsp?job_id=2980. 

OKC's David Banks: World Rowing Athlete of the Month

OKC National High Performance Center athlete David Banks was recently named the Athlete of the Month by World Rowing. David spoke with World Rowing about how he became involved in the sport and transitioned to the US National Team - check out the interview HERE .

Rowers Go Bald for Childhood Cancer

Athletes from the OKC National High Performance Center, Ryan Monaghan and Phil Grisdela had their heads shaved on Sunday to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and to raise money to find cures with the St. Baldrick's Foundation. 

St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events began as a challenge between businessmen and have grown from one event in 2000 to over 1,300 events in 2012, raising critical funds for childhood cancer research. Events take place in pubs, restaurants, schools, churches, parks, malls, military bases, firehouses and any other place you can imagine.

Because kids with cancer often lose their hair during treatment, "shavees" for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation show their support by shaving their heads voluntarily, and inspiring friends and family to donate money to support childhood cancer research.

Click HERE to make a donation to Ryan's page and HERE to make a donation to Phil's page. Help support the St. Baldrick's Foundation's efforts against childhood cancer!

Silver for OKC Rowers at World Cup 1

In the first international event of the season, the United States won medals in five of the six events it entered at the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup March 22-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Penrith, Australia. The U.S. won silver in the women’s pair, women’s quadruple sculls, women’s eight and men’s eight, and bronze in the women’s single sculls. Host nation Australia topped the medals table with gold in four events.

In the men’s eight, four Oklahoma City National High Performance Center athletes, Stephen Young, Michael Gennaro, Tom Peszek and Grant James along with Tom Dethlefs, Stephen Kasprzyk, Brandon Shald, Nareg Guregian, David Banks won the silver medal with a time of 5:31.73 to Great Britain’s winning time of 5:29.90.

The 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup was run in conjunction with the inaugural Sydney International Rowing Regatta. The ‘Festival of Rowing’ was held March 18-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Penrith. Peszek, James, Gennaro, and Dethlefs competed in the Men's Coxless four, winning bronze in a time of 5:57.71 behind first place Mercantile Composite (5:57.02) and second place Canberra Composite (5:57.66).

Australia is the first stop of the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup circuit. The second stage will be held June 21-23 in Eton, Great Britain. The final stage will take place July 12-14 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Six OKC Athletes to Compete at World Cup in Australia

USRowing has announced the roster of athletes that will compete in the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup March 22-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Penrith, Australia. 

U.S. crews are entered in three world cup events including the women’s quadruple sculls, women’s eight and men’s eight. The 22-person roster includes 14 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. Six of these athletes from the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center, including David Banks, Michael Gennaro, Grant James, Ross James, Tom Peszek, and Stephen Young.

The 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup will be run in conjunction with the inaugural Sydney International Rowing Regatta. The ‘Festival of Rowing’ will be held March 18-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Penrith. In addition to the world cup events, the U.S. has entered eight crews in the Australian Open Rowing Championships including two women’s single sculls, a women’s double sculls, two women’s pairs, a women’s four and two men’s fours.

U.S. crews will be coached by Laurel Korholz on the women’s side and Oklahoma City National High Performance Center Head Coach, Bryan Volpenhein on the men’s side. The 14 Olympic events of the Samsung World Rowing Cup 1 will begin with heats on Friday morning, March 22. Repechages are scheduled for Saturday, March 23, with finals on Sunday, March 24.

Tom Peszek

Ross James

Grant James

Hurricane Rowers Dedicate "Michelle Sechser" Eight

The University of Tulsa Rowing Team honored Oklahoma City National High Performance athlete, Michelle Sechser, with an eight dedicated in her name! Read more HERE!

Sechser at the U of T Basketball game Wednesday evening

Michelle speaks about training to U of Tulsa rowers

USRowing Midwest Speed Order Recap

Personal Bests: Midwest Athletes Make a Splash

Local athletes from Oklahoma City and surrounding areas came together this past weekend to compete at the USRowing Midwest Speed Order. The event consisted of a 6 kilometer erg test on Saturday that determined the starting order for a 4000 meter head race down the Oklahoma River on Sunday. A mix of National Team members and college athletes produced an exciting environment with Olympians cheering on college freshman at times. 

Max Goff

The first flight of 6K erg testing kicked off at the Devon Boathouse on Saturday afternoon with a throw down of the open and lightweight men. OKC Training Center's Max Goff was the first to set his handle down, finishing in 18:59.5 ahead of teammate Ryan Shelton who pulled off a personal best time of 19:05.0. London Olympian, Tom Peszek finished third in 19:15.6.

Two time Olympian Greg Ruckman  a solid had performance last weekend at the East Coast Speed Order finishing 25 seconds ahead of the field in the lightweight men's 6 K test. This week at the Midwest Speed Order, he elected to avoid the weigh in and compete in the open event. Greg Flood finished in first place for the lightweights in 19:54.2 ahead of second place Christian Klein who achieved a personal best time of 20:14.8. With two former lightweight Olympians rumored to have pulled 6K's on their own on Friday in the 19:55 to sub 20:10 range, the future looks promising for the lightweight four going into the 2013 season.

In the open and light women's group, Jen Forbes lead the field for much of the 6 K ahead of Kate Bertko. Forbes has been on the come back trail since returning from an injury which kept her from full time training for much of the summer. She ran out out of gas with 750 to go and was passed by Bertko who finished first in 22:07.2. Forbes pulled off a second place finish in a personal best time of 22:17.4. The next finisher was Michelle Sechser with the fastest time in the lightweight division in 22:30.8. Her 2012 US Lightweight Women's Quad teammate, Chelsea Smith, finished second in 22:58.3. Sechser and Smith both improved their personal records, as did several competitors from Oklahoma City University and the University of Tulsa. Watch for U of T lightweight women to do some damage this Spring racing in an new eight named the "Michelle Sechser '08".

On Sunday morning, after a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise, athletes lined up to race the 4000 meter head race portion of the speed order. In mostly flat conditions with a moderate cross wind, Peszek and Mike Gennaro pulled off the win in the open Men's Pair in 14:35.5. Christian Klein and Under 23 National team member Dan Kirrane finished first in the Lightweight Pair in 14:51.8.

OKCNHPC's Ryan Shelton finished first in the Open Men's single in 15:43.6 ahead of Ruckman (15:52.5). 

The winner on the lightweight side was Matt Maddamma from Oklahoma City University in 15:50.8. Maddamma finished fourth in the single at the 2009 Junior World Rowing Championships and lists "making the national team" on the OCU website as his "personal goal this year, athletic or not". This weekend's result may mean he is on track to achieve that goal as he posted the second fastest time overall for both open and lightweight events. Flood finished second in the lightweight single in 16:01.5.

Kate Bertko convincingly won the open women's single event, posting a 16:56.3. Jen Forbes made a big splash in her attempt to catch Bertko - literally. The increasing cross wind may have played a role in her failure to complete the 4 kilometer course as she flipped her boat just before the halfway mark. She'll look to avenge this result in the Spring at National Selection Regatta #1. 

Sechser closed out a successful weekend with a first place finish in the lightweight women's single in 17:19.5 despite a few minor "failure to yield" obstacles in her path. Smith finished second in 17:56.5 just barely nipping 2011 U23 National Team member Kat Schiro who finished third in 17:56.8.

Full results from the USRowing Midwest Speed Order can be found HERE

USRowing Midwest Speed Order Results Info

For minute-by-minute results from the USRowing Midwest Speed Order, follow us on twitter at twitter.com/RowOKC_HP .

Full results will be available HERE .

Brunchin' Around the Christmas Tree!

OKC National High Performance Center Holiday Brunch
Featuring live holiday music from OKC High Performance athlete, Jameson Harper

Come join us to celebrate the holiday season with a delicious brunch buffet at the Devon Boathouse. Bloody Mary's and Mimosas will be available for purchase. Tickets purchased online before December 5th are $15.00, tickets will be available at the door for $20.00.

Get your tickets HERE

Check out this video of Jameson performing the song Wagon Wheel:

USRowing Midwest Speed Order Preview

Oklahoma City National High Performance athletes will have the chance to go head to head this weekend at the USRowing Midwest Speed Order. The event will consist of a 6 kilometer erg test on Saturday, November 17th at the Devon Boathouse beginning at 1:15 PM. The results of the 6K will determine the starting order for the 4000 meter head race down the Oklahoma River on Sunday November 18th with the first flight sent off at 8:00 AM. The speed order will feature several Olympians and US National Team members along with local college teams in the six events: Men's Pair, Lightweight Men's Pair, Men's Single, Women's Single, Lightweight Men's Single, and Lightweight Women's Single.

Peszek

2012 London Olympian, Tom Peszek, will team up with Olympic alternate and 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist Mike Gennaro in the Men's Pair. They'll take on training center teammates, Max Goff and Ryan Monaghan. OKC rookies, Jameson Harper and Peter Dwyer will also race the pair in their first speed order.

Two OKC entries will go head to head in the Lightweight Men's Pair with Christian Klein and Dan Kirrane taking on Frank Petrucci and Kyle Traub. Klein competed in the 2011 World Rowing Championships in the Lightweight Eight while Kirrane stroked the Lightweight Four at the 2012 Under 23 World Rowing Championships. Petrucci represented the United States in the Lightweight Four at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Didier

Blaise Dider raced in the Men's Coxed Pair at the 2012 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This weekend he'll go solo in the Men's Single event. He'll be up against teammates Henry Cole, Greg Ansolabehere, and Ryan Shelton. This event will also feature athletes from Oklahoma City University and OKC Riversport.

In the women's single, OKC's Kate Bertko and Jen Forbes will take on entries from Oklahoma City University and the University of Tulsa. Bertko competed in the Women's Double at the 2011 World Rowing Championships and won a silver medal in the Women's Quad at the 2009 World Rowing Championships. Forbes won a bronze medal in the Women's Eight at the 2011 Under 23 World Rowing Championships and will look to close the gap on Bertko since their last race at the Head of the Oklahoma.

Smith and Sechser

The Lightweight Men's single will consist of some fresh faces mixed with experienced competitors. Greg Flood competed in the Lightweight Men's Pair at the 2012 World Rowing Championships and will represent OKC as the lone training center entry. He will have a good chance to measure he's speed against two time Olympian, Greg Ruckman from Colorado Rowing Club. Ruckman just competed at the USRowing East Coast Speed Order finishing first in the 6K test and 2nd in the head race on Carnegie Lake in Princeton, NJ. Former Junior National Team member, Matt Maddamma, will race for Oklahoma City University.

Two members of the 4th place Lightweight Women's Quad at the 2012 World Rowing Championships, Michelle Sechser and Chelsea Smith, will headline the Lightweight Women's Single event this weekend. They'll get a challenge from teammate Kat Schiro who competed in the 2011 Under 23 World Championship Lightweight Quad and recently finished first at the 2012 Head of the Hooch. They'll be join by entries from Colorado Rowing Club and the University of Tulsa.

Minute by minute results will be available on twitter: @RowOKC_HP

Talent OKC: Who is the best example of an athlete successfully transferring to rowing?

In 2008, Great Britain's Helen Glover began rowing after her mother saw an ad in a newspaper calling for tall athletes to try rowing as part of the British talent identification program. She had played sports her entire life and competed internationally in cross country. Four years later she stood on top of the medal podium with her partner, Heather Stanning, after winning gold in the Women's Pair at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Tell us your best story of an athlete transferring to the sport of rowing by commenting on this blog post! You can also tweet your answers to @RowOKC_HP using #TalentOKC .

Your answers will be a part of next week's reader poll!

Heart of an Olympian/S.R.’s Silas Stafford on Suffering, Joy

Click HERE to see a great article and video from pressdemocrat.com featuring 2012 London Olympian Silas Stafford!

Bryan Volpenhein Named Men's National Team Coach

USRowing has hired Lucas McGee and Bryan Volpenhein as men’s coaches for the United States National Team, the organization announced on Tuesday. Both men will be responsible for the men's high performance sweep squad and will work in concert to develop, select and prepare the team for international competition.

Volpenhein, a three-time Olympian and 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s eight, led the lightweight men’s four to Olympic qualification and an eighth-place overall finish at the 2012 Olympic Games. He also coached the U.S. men’s pair that finished eighth in London this summer. In addition to his current role as Director of the Oklahoma City High Performance Center, he will coach the men’s four and the lightweight men’s four at the USRowing Training Center – Oklahoma City.

"I'm honored to have this opportunity and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead,” said Volpenhein. “I have tremendous respect for Luke and I'm excited to work with him to build a strong, competitive team. With Curtis' leadership and vision, I think this new structure is a step in the right direction. It will engage more of the rowing community and provide multiple avenues for athletes to succeed. I can't wait to get started."

Gold at the Hooch for OKC's Kat Schiro

Representing USRowing Training Center - OKC, Kat Schiro competed in the Head of the Hooch this past weekend, finishing first in the Women's Lightweight Single. The Head of the Hooch Regatta in Chattanooga, TN is a 5000 meter head race on the Tennessee River.

Schiro won the event comprised of 16 competitors in a time of 20:10.7 ahead of second place Marissa Catalanotto of the University of Tulsa in 20:56.1. Full results are available HERE .

The next race for Schiro will be the USRowing Midwest Speed Order November 17 and 18 on the Oklahoma River in OKC.

Talent OKC: Shara Stafford

Stafford with Rower Jen Forbes

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games less than 4 years away, an exciting opportunity is available for men and women to explore a new sport at the elite level. The Oklahoma City National High Performance Center has developed the Talent OKC: Olympic Athlete Identification Program with a mission to select and recruit potential medal winning athletes, and to ensure clearly defined development pathways exist for the transfer of talented athletes to the sport of rowing.

Former University of Missouri swimmer, Shara Stafford, traveled to OKC this past weekend to participate in the Talent OKC program. Stafford competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials for swimming. She was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2012, becoming just the second Mizzou student-athlete to earn a Big 12 postseason swimming and diving award. Stafford, a transfer from the University of Florida, earned three first team All-America honors at the 2012 NCAA Championships, where she finished fifth in the 50 free, sixth in the 100 free and was part of Mizzou's seventh-place 200 free relay team. She also claimed 100 and 200 free titles at 2012 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships.

Stafford was invited to OKC for four days for the second stage of the program - Talent Confirmation. This stage consisted of rowing instruction on the Concept 2 ergometer, indoor rowing tank, and on the water. She also competed standardized tests used to identify potential rowing talent, including several flexibility and stability tests, and anthropological measurements. Most importantly, her strength was tested using the Concept 2 Dyno. The exercises which measure arm press, leg press, and arm pull produce an overall picture of the general body strength.

Take a look at the videos showing Shara's progress after only three days on the water:

Talent OKC: Olympic Athlete Identification

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games less than 4 years away, an exciting opportunity is available for men and women to explore a new sport at the elite level. No experience required. The Oklahoma City National High Performance Center has developed the Talent OKC: Olympic Athlete Identification Program with a mission to select and recruit potential medal winning athletes, and to ensure clearly defined development pathways exist for the transfer of talented athletes to the sport of rowing.

Can you answer YES to the following questions?

·        Have you competed in sport at the collegiate or elite level?

·        Do you have a US Passport (or are you eligible for a US Passport)?

·        Do you have the desire, commitment and determination to win?

·        Are you up for a once in a lifetime opportunity? 

If so, OKCNHPC would like you to participate in the Talent OKC Program at the OKC National High Performance Center. The OKCNHPC is located on the Oklahoma River, a US Olympic & Paralympic Training Site.

Rowing takes strength, determination, focus and patience. Regardless of your rowing experience, if you have the physical and psychological qualities to be an elite rower, you could find yourself competing as an international athlete, representing your country. Could you have what it takes to represent your country at the next Olympic Games?  

Talent OKC: Where do I sign up?

The Talent OKC: Olympic Athlete Identification Program consists of three stages: 1) Talent Identification; 2) Talent Confirmation and 3) Talent Development. Each stage of the program allows OKCNHPC to identify those individuals who have exceptional physical and psychological potential to develop into a high-performance athlete.

Talent Identification: To apply, simply click on the link below to complete the online application.

If successful at this first stage, you will be contacted by a staff member of the OKC National High Performance Center, inviting you to attend stage two of the selection process, Talent Confirmation, at the Devon Boathouse in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The sport of rowing consists of four categories:

Open Men - Ideal candidates are 6’5” or taller

Open Women - 6’0” or taller

Lightweight Men - 5’10” or taller and in the 155lbs to 165lbs weight range

Lightweight Women - 5’5” or taller and in the 125lbs to 135lbs

Click HERE to start your Talent OKC journey.