Bronchos Earn Medals In Opening Regatta

10/2/2012 3:03:00 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Central Oklahoma women's rowing program began its fall season last weekend at the OCU Head of the Oklahoma Regatta on the Oklahoma River.

Looking to improve upon their performance from the previous fall, the Bronchos had two entries in the Collegiate Eights event, two entries in the Collegiate Fours event, five entries in the Open Pairs event and three entries in the Open Fours event.

Central's top Collegiate Eight entry placed 11th in the 4,000-meter race Saturday in a time of 15:42.9 to qualify for the OG+E Nightsprints, knocking 21 seconds off their 2011 time while placing seven spots higher.

The lineup included Amy VanBuskirk (cox), Hannah Anderson (stroke), Karen Hoke, Jenna Goodner, Rachel Kliewer, Kelsey Philhower, Sam Elliot, Jenni Hagen and Ariel Good (bow).

UCO's second entry of Rachael Baalman (cox), Michaela Stam (stroke), Chelsea Robinette, Brittany Rawlins, Michaela Rabenhorst, Kirsten Clark, Morgan Henry, Aleks Stogsdill, and Justus Gochenour (bow) had a time of 17:13.7 in finishing ahead of Texas A&M and LSU.

Members of the Second Varsity Eight split into two Collegiate Fours and finished 22nd and 26th in a 33-boat field later Saturday.

Amy VanBuskirk (cox), Michaela Stam (stroke), Michaela Rabenhorst, Brittany Rawlins and Chelsea Robinette (bow) made up the A lineup, while the B lineup consisted of Jenn Lee (cox), Morgan Henry (stroke), Kirsten Clark, Justus Gochenour, and Aleks Stogsdill (bow).

During the OG+E Nightsprints, the UCO Varsity Eight raced in the Petite Final against crews from Tulsa, Kansas and Oklahoma. With a time of 1:32.9, the Central women finished third in their final and ninth overall, up from 12th the year before.

The Bronchos had five entries in the Open Pairs event Sunday morning, with the UCO duo of Jenni Hagen and Rachel Kliewer finished sixth in a time 18:52.0 to lead the way.

Brittany Rawlins and Michaela Rabenhorst teamed up for a seventh-place finish in 19:15.1, while Jenna Goodner and Karen Hoke took eighth in 19:26.3 and Ariel Good and Hannah Anderson ninth in 19:26.12. The entry of Sam Elliot and Kelsey Philhower did not finish.

To close the regatta, UCO entered three boats in the Open Fours competition. After somewhat disappointing results in the pairs, many of the same rowers bounced back to earn the first-ever medals for the Bronchos at the Head of the Oklahoma.

The A entry of Rachael Baalman (cox), Hannah Anderson (stroke), Karen Hoke, Jenna Goodner, and Ariel Good (bow) earned silver in the 16-boat field in a time of 16:49.9, while the B entry of Amy VanBuskirk (cox), Rachel Kliewer (stroke), Kelsey Philhower, Sam Elliot, and Jenni Hagen (bow) was right behind in 16:53.2 to take the bronze.

Finishing 13th in the field was the C lineup of Jenn Lee (cox), Chelsea Robinette (stroke), Justus Gochenour, Morgan Henry, and Aleks Stogsdill in a time of 17:59.9.

"This was a pretty good first step for what is still a very young team,” UCO head coach Andrew Derrick said. “We definitely missed some opportunities, but also showed some good speed. We still have a ways to go to be a championship caliber team, but the team understands that and is taking steps in the right direction. Overall we are very proud of them and it was great to see our recruited freshman in a UCO uniform for the first time"

The Central Oklahoma women conclude their fall season at the Wichita Frostbite Regatta on Nov. 4 and will feature the Novice team for the first time. Click here for full results for the OCU Head of the Oklahoma Regatta.

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