UCO Ready To Open Season At Oklahoma Regatta

10/2/2013 10:44:00 AM

EDMOND (Oct. 2) -- The Central Oklahoma women's rowing team is gearing up for its first competition of the 2013-2014 season this weekend when they take to familiar waters to participate in the Head of the Oklahoma Saturday and Sunday on the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City.

The regatta marks the beginning of the fall season for the Bronchos, who are coming off of their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Championships, where they finished fifth in the country for the second time.

"We're extremely excited to begin our fall season this weekend and see where we stack up against the other teams in our area," said head coach Andy Derrick. "The team has been working hard over the past six weeks and we're ready to put that work into action."

"I always get really excited for this race," assistant coach Amy Jantzen. "We have novices racing in this regatta for the first time in program history, so it will be fun to see how they do. I think we are showing great potential so far this season and I am happy for them and this opportunity."

Racing will begin for Bronchos will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the Collegiate 8+ event, which will include entries from the Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Tulsa, Clemson and others. Representing UCO will be Amy VanBuskirk (cox), Karen Hoke, Hannah Anderson, Brittany Rawlins, Chelsea Robinette, Madison Martens, Tracey Lisowe, Morgan Henry, and Kirsten Clark.

The Novice 4+ will be on the course next at 1:10 p.m. with the team of Jenna Laine Meraz (cox), Kalli Schwartz, Chelsey McArthur, Autumn Gordon, and Leia McMurry set to face 14 other crews.

The Bronchos will take to the water again at 4:20 p.m. in the Collegiate 4+ event, the largest of the regatta with 37 entries. UCO's "A" entry will comprise of Jenna Laine Meraz (cox), Madison Martens, Tracey Lisowe, Morgan Henry, and Kirsten Clark, while Amy VanBuskirk (cox), Karen Hoke, Chelsea Robinette, Kalli Schwartz, and Hannah Anderson make up the "B" entry.

For the first time in program history, the Bronchos will participate in the Novice 8+ event, consisting of rowers who began the sport just weeks before the regatta. UCO's team will be among the 11 crews in the race at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

Based on the results from the afternoon's rowing the Broncho 8+ and 4+ will compete in the OG+E NightSprints, a 500-meter sprint race taking place under the newly-installed stadium lights on the Oklahoma River. UCO's 8+ will race between 7:45-7:55 p.m. and the 4+ will race between 9:35-9:45 p.m.

Sunday's racing will begin with the Open Pairs event at 9:00 a.m. The Bronchos will field five entries in the race, along with 12 other crews.

Racing will conclude with the Broncho entry in the Open 4+ event, scheduled for 10:55 a.m. Representing UCO will be Tia Reed (cox), Kalli Schwartz, Chelsey McArthur, Autumn Gordon, and Leia McMurry.

The Central Oklahoma BroncH2O water truck will also be located in the middle of the action all weekend, providing purified water for competitors and spectators alike. Representatives from the team, including recent alumni, will be located near the water truck and will have UCO crew t-shirts and tank tops available for purchase.

More information on the Head of the Oklahoma can be found here, including live results and details on the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, happening alongside the racing.

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