UCO Rowers Open Season Saturday

9/28/2012 9:57:00 AM

EDMOND (Sept. 28) -- The Central Oklahoma women's rowing program will begin its fall racing season this weekend with a series of races at the OCU Head of the Oklahoma Regatta.

The racing is part of a larger festival, which will also include corporate rowing races, canoe and kayak sprints and a 5-kilometer running race.

In keeping with its national appeal, this year's Head of the Oklahoma will feature opponents such as Stanford, Clemson, Massachusetts, Texas, Southern Methodist, Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma. As the lone Division II participant, UCO will look to improve upon last year's placing and qualify for the OG+E Nightsprints.

The OG+E Nightsprints are a one-of-a-kind event, taking qualifiers from the day's head racing and
having them compete in 500-meter sprint races under artificial lights anchored on the shoreline. As the only regatta to feature this kind of racing, it is a fan-favorite and will attract thousands to the shore of the Oklahoma River.

The Bronchos will be competing on both Saturday and Sunday during the event, racing in the Collegiate Eights race, the Collegiate Fours race, the Open Pairs race, and the Open Fours race. The women will race at 12:25 and 4:20 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 and 10:55 a.m. Sunday.

Click here for more information about the OCU Head of the Oklahoma.

UCO will compete this weekend with five recruited freshmen, who will join15 returning athletes.

Hannah Anderson, Justus Gochenour, Morgan Henry, Molly McSweeney and Aleks Stoksdill have joined the Central Oklahoma rowing team as the first representatives as the Class of 2016. As products of both Texas and Oklahoma, the regional scope and national competitiveness of the team has increased even more.

Anderson came to UCO from McLoud and rowed prior to college with the OKC Riversport team in Oklahoma City. While with Riversport, Anderson was awarded Most Outstanding Novice Girl during her first year and the Team Captain Award her senior season.

“I think UCO rowing is really making a name for itself and I am so excited and honored to be able to share in that,” said Anderson. “I am definitely looking most forward to rowing. I love it so much and am so excited to see where we go this next year.”

Gochenour also spent time rowing with the OKC Riversport junior team after moving to the state from Iowa. Gochenour attended Bishop McGuinness High School, where she participated in volleyball, basketball, and tennis in addition to rowing out of the Chesapeake Boathouse.

“What I am most excited for during my freshman year is competing with the UCO women's rowing team and winning,” said Gouchenour.

Henry is Central's lone out-of-state recruit, hailing from White Rock, Texas. Morgan rowed for the White Rock Rowing Club and also played volleyball for three years while at Bishop Lynch High School before beginning to row.

“I was attracted to Central Oklahoma because I heard a lot of great things about it and when I came to visit I liked it even more,” Henry said. “The class sizes are perfect and you really get a good learning experience. When I look around I see a variety of people so I know that there's a place for everyone here. Some of the things I'm most excited for during my freshman year are meeting new people, being able to see how I adapt away from home and rowing with an awesome team.”

McSweeney comes to Central from Tulsa, where she spent her first years in rowing with the Tulsa Rowing Club. During high school, McSweeney also participated in cross country and track.

“Central Oklahoma, to me, is the perfect size and I liked the idea of coming to UCO to row and be a part of a team again,” said McSweeney. “During my freshman year, I am looking forward to meeting new people and living on my own.”

Stogsdill is no stranger to rowing in the state of Oklahoma after doing her junior rowing with the Tulsa Rowing Club. A native of Broken Arrow, Stogsdill participated on the softball team and earned the Most Athletic Award her junior year.

“What attracted me to Central Oklahoma was the team. When I came on my visit I automatically felt a connection with the girls; I could tell that this team is very close and bonded for one purpose. I wanted to be a part of that,” said Stogsdill. “As a freshman on the team I am most excited about winning a National Championship.”

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