Next week's feature: 5 Tips for Success in Collegiate Rowing

Check back each day next week for our feature, "5 Tips for Success in Collegiate Rowing" from Oklahoma City Training Center athletes. Each weekday, our athletes will give pointers on how to get the most out of your collegiate rowing experience. If you have any specific categories of interest, tweet your ideas to @RowOKC_HP !

MONDAY: Coxswains

OKC's Stephen Young will provide tips specific to coxswains. Stephen is a two time Senior National Team member and a 2009 graduate of MIT. In 2010, he was the coxswain for the Lightweight Men's 8+ and Men's Coxed Pair at the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand. He was also a member of the Men's Coxed Pair at the 2012 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv Bulgaria. You can follow Stephen on twitter at @stephen_f_young

TUESDAY: Lightweight Women

Michelle Sechser will give 5 tips for college lightweight women. Michelle is a two time Pan American Games bronze medallist. She competed in the Lightweight Women's double and Women's Open Quad at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Mexico. In 2012, she finished fourth in the Lightweight Women's Quad at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. You can follow Michelle on twitter at @MichelleSechser

WEDNESDAY: Lightweight Men

Princeton graduate, Robin Prendes, will have tips for lightweight men. Robin competed in the Lightweight Men's Four at the London Olympics. He raced in the same event at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Slovenia and won a bronze medal at the 2010 U23 World Rowing Championships in the Lightweight Men's Four in Belarus. You can follow Robin on twitter at @RobinPrendes

THURSDAY: Open Women

Princeton graduate, Kelly Pierce will give tips to college open women. Kelly won a bronze medal in the Women's Eight at the 2011 U23 World Rowing Championships. Kelly is on twitter at @kellpossible

FRIDAY: Open Men

Tom Peszek, University of Michigan graduate, will give tips to open weight men. Tom raced in the Men's Pair at the 2012 London Olympics. He qualified the pair for the Olympics while competing in the event at the 2011 World Rowing Championships. He was the stroke of the Men's Eight at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. You can follow Tom on twitter at @TomPeszek

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For the lastest news, results, events, and developments with the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center athletes, follow us on Twitter @RowOKC_HP !

Mercy Hospital Provides Meals for OKC's High Performance Athletes

Mercy Hospital of Oklahoma City will be delivering meals to assist with the nutritional needs of resident athletes at the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center beginning October 1. Mercy is very enthusiastic in helping some of the best athletes in the nation purse their Olympic dreams.

 

Head Coach Bryan Volpenhein explains, "support like this goes a very long way for our athletes who spend as many as 30 hours per week training and require about 4000 - 6000 calories per day. With the commitment of two practices per day and work, along with the financial strain, it's sometimes difficult for the rowers to find time to prepare nutritious meals. It is also extremely beneficial for the athletes to be able to eat at the boathouse immediately after training to maximize their recovery time. The support from Mercy Hospital will have a great impact on the development of our athletes".

 

The coaches and athletes of the OKC High Performance Center would like to thank Mercy Hospital for their generous contribution - welcome to our team!

Fun Times and Fast Racing for OKC Athletes at the Head of the Oklahoma

Oklahoma City National High Performance athletes enjoyed the opportunity to compete on their home course this past weekend at the OCU Head of the Oklahoma. The event consisted of a 4 kilometer head race and with a top six finish, an opportunity to compete in the famous 500 meter OG&E Night Sprints.

Grace Luczak and Kelly Pierce

The USRowing Training Center - OKC entries performed well across a variety of boat classes. The head race portion of the weekend was highlighted by first place finishes in the Women's Single, Lightweight Women's Single, Men's Double, Lightweight Men's Double, Men's Single, Women's Double, and Men's Elite Eight. Kate Bertko won the Women's Single event in a time of 17:54.04 while Michelle Sechser won the Lightweight Women's Single in 18:08.053. The two joined forces in the Women's Double to win gold in a time of 15:51.585. Ryan Shelton finished first in the Men's Single in 16:06.957 and along with teammate Greg Ansolabehere, won the Men's Double in 15:05.186. Olympians Robin Prendes and Will Daly won the Lightweight Men's Double in 15:04.857. The crew of coxswain Stephen Young, Ryan Monaghan, Olympian Tom Peszek, Max Goff, Blaise Didier, Peter Dwyer, Jameson Harper, Justin Stangel, and Henry Cole finished first in the Men's Elite Eight in a time of 12:50.558.

Later that evening, crews hit the water to compete under the lights in the OG&E Night Sprints. USRowing Training Center - OKC's Grace Luczak finished first in the Women's Single in a time of 1:43.99. Prendes and Daly won the Men's Double in 1:25.300 while Bertko and Sechser won the Women's Double in 1:37.523.

The next competition for OKC High Performance athletes will be the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, October 20-21.

2012 Olympians to Compete in OCU Head of the Oklahoma

Prendes, LaCava, Newell, and Fahden at the London Olympics

The Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma returns to the Boathouse District at the Oklahoma River, Sept. 29-30, 2012, with all the excitement you’ve come to expect from Oklahoma’s premier regatta. The race is held as part of the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, a four-day event running September 27-30.

Oklahoma City National High Performance Center athletes and 2012 Olympians, Tom Peszek, Robin Prendes, and Will Newell are scheduled to compete in Saturday's racing. Peszek represented the United States in London in the Men's Pair with Silas Stafford while Prendes and Newell competed in the Lightweight Men's Four with Anthony Fahden and Nick LaCava.

The event will also feature members of the 2012 World Championship team that competed in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in August. Will Daly and Greg Flood from the Lightweight Men's Pair, Michelle Sechser from the Lightweight Women's Quad, Blaise Didier, Stephen Young and Justin Stangel from the Men's Pair with Coxswain are entered in events to take place on Saturday.

Other notable competitors include 3 time US National Team member Kate Bertko and four time US National Team Member and World Record Holder in the Under 23 Women's Pair, Grace Luczak. Past National Team members Ryan Monaghan, Christian Klein, Daniel Kiranne, Max Goff, Jen Forbes, Kelly Pierce, Henry Cole, Kat Schiro, Frank Petrucci will also represent USRowing Training Center - OKC at the event.

The OCU Head of the Oklahoma includes 2.5 mile head racing during the day with key races acting as qualifiers for the 500m OGE Night Sprints Saturday evening. Events include collegiate, masters, and junior rowing as well as kayak and dragon boat racing.

The Oklahoma Regatta Festival kicks off Thursday and Friday evenings, 6-10 pm, with the OG&E Night Sprints featuring Corporate Rowing and Dragon Boat League racing. Racing continues throughout the day on Saturday with festival activities including live music, great food, the Olympic Experience, a children’s area and inflatable zone. Each evening will end with athletes and spectators enjoying fireworks over the river.

Cheer for local favorites – Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, University of Tulsa plus OKC RIVERSPORT masters and juniors – as well as some of the top teams from across the country.

OKC National High Performance Center to Host USRowing Fall Midwest Speed Order

 

With Fall season training underway, athletes at the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center look ahead to the 2012-2013 rowing season. The opportunity to compete against the countries best rowers will be available when the training center plays to host for the 2012 USRowing Fall Speed Order on November 17 to 18.

The speed order will consist of a 6k erg test on Concept 2 fixed ergometers at the Devon Boathouse. Results from the 6k test will determine the start order for Sunday's on-water 4000 meter head race on the Oklahoma River. Lightweight athletes will only be required to weigh in one time during the event, before the erg test on Saturday. No weigh-in will be required for Sunday's racing.

Sunday's racing will include the following events: Men's Pair, Lightweight Men's Pair, Lightweight Men's Single, Lightweight Women's Single, Men's Single, Women's Single.

See below for more information:

2012 USRowing Fall Midwest Speed Order
November 17-18, 2012
Devon Boathouse

725 S Lincoln Blvd

Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Events: M2-, LM2-, M1X, W1X, LM1X, LW1X

Saturday: 6k erg test on Concept 2 (Fixed) *Please note: Everyone is expected to participate in the 6k erg test in order to compete Sunday on the water. Times from the 6k will determine the start order for Sunday's racing. Lightweight athletes will only be required to weigh in one time during the event, before the erg test on Saturday. No weigh-in will be required for Sunday's racing.
Sunday: M2-, LM2-, LM1x, LW1x, M1x, W1x (On Water Distance: Approximately 4,000 meters)

Boat Storage/Launching
Boat Storage/Launching: Racks located outside of the Devon Boathouse, landing and retrieving from the Devon Boathouse docks.

Practice
Practice: NOON - 5pm Friday; 9 am - NOON and 3 pm - 5 pm Saturday

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Noon: Athlete Meeting (a representative from each boat must be present or the entry will be scratched) will be held on the 2nd floor of the Devon Boathouse. There will be signs to direct you.

6k Ergometer will also be held at the Devon Boathouse.

******Tentative depending on entries
6k Erg Tests (Start order for on-water racing will come from 6k results)
1:15 pm: Flight #1
2:15 pm: Flight #2
3:15 pm: Flight #3
4:15 pm: Flight #4
TBA: Flight #5 (if necessary)

3:00-5:00 pm: Course open for practice.

Sunday, November 18, 2011

******Tentative depending on entries

8:00 am: Flight #1

9:15 am: Flight #2

***Timing will be provided by OKC High Performance Center Coaching Staff. This is an informal racing opportunity for athletes. Results from both the 6K ergometer and on water racing will have no impact on selection for 2013.

Weigh-ins
Weigh-ins will be conducted on Saturday Nov. 17 for the ergometer piece only at the Devon Boathouse. Lightweights will need to weigh-in 1 - 2 hours before their scheduled ergometer piece.

FISA Max Rules: Light Men - 72.5 kg; Light Women - 59kg. If an athlete fails to make weight, they will be allowed to race in the heavyweight event.

Registration Information
Register online through Regatta Central at www.regattacentral.com
Entry Fee: $30 per person
Registration deadline: Friday, November 9, 2012, MIDNIGHT (PST)
USRowing membership is required: visit www.usrowing.org to renew or join.

Contact information:
Please contact Stephen Young with any questions.
syoung@okcbf.org
(813)833-0246