Women's Rowing 5/12/2020 3:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Rowing Announces 2020-21 Signing Class

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma rowing team announced its robust 2020-21 signing class Tuesday, with the two-time national champions bringing in 11 newcomers ready to help the Bronchos on the water.

"We are thrilled to have this group of 11 awesome young women join us at UCO next year," UCO head rowing coach Brian Ebke said. "They've got a mix of experience levels in rowing, from regional champions and national competitors to athletes who have never been in a boat. One thing they all share in common though is a passion to work hard and the athleticism to be successful in whatever sport they pursue.

"This is the biggest class we've had come into the rowing program at UCO, which we're even more excited about considering that assistant coach Hannah Malzahn and I were working with a shortened timeline due to our late summer hires to UCO. Our roadmap to success includes growing the team every year, through recruiting internationally, domestically, and maybe most importantly, within our own state of Oklahoma, and this is a great first step for us in this process. This group will have a big impact on the team next year and we are so eager to get to work with them soon."

Central Oklahoma has produced the Varsity 8+ national championship boat in three consecutive seasons (2017-18-19) and the Varsity 4+ national championship boat in 2019. The Bronchos won the national team championship as well in both 2018 and 2019.

Here is the 2020-21 signing class:

Hope Brooks: Georgetown, Texas
A standout, experienced rower from Texas, Brooks rows for the Texas Rowing Center. She raced at Youth National Championship in 2018 and 2019, attended U.S. Rowing Olympic Development Program camp and won U18 Women' 4x, took ninth in 4x at 2019 Head of the Charles Regatta, and is also a regional champion in 4+ (2019) and state champion in 4+ in 2018 and 2019.
From Coach: Hope is a talented rower who's had great success rowing for the Austin Rowing Club and Texas Rowing Center over the last 3 years. What gets us most excited about Hope as an athlete is the potential she started to unveil this year while rowing for the Texas Rowing Center. Hope comes from a strong and supportive family and brings a work ethic, desire for improvement, and humility that we are thrilled to be around next year. Hope will be an impact athlete for us next year and we're excited to push her to her full potential.

Faith Brooks: Georgetown, Texas
Another strong experience rower from Texas like her sister, Faith Brooks rows for the Texas Rowing Center. She also raced at Youth National Championships in 2018 and 2019 and attended the U.S. Rowing Olympic Development Program camp and won U18 Women' 4x. She is a regional champion in 4+ and a two-time state champion in the same boat. She took sixth in that boat at the 2019 Head of the Charles Regatta.
From Coach: Faith has pushed herself to improve both on the water and on the erg, and we can tell that she's just starting to scratch the surface of her abilities. She's made great changes in her rowing this year and has shown the type of commitment to the sport that we are looking for, commuting into early morning practice for double days and working on her rowing over the summers. Faith will make an impact in pushing our top group and we can't wait to start working with her. Faith has big goals in our sport and we're pumped she'll be pursuing those goals at UCO.

Keyna Holleman: Lynden, Washington
Holleman rows for Whatcom Rowing Association in Washington state and is also a basketball standout for Lynden High School, where she helped her team win a state championship.
From Coach: Keyna came to rowing later in high school, yet quickly saw success and is on a great path in our sport. And she's done that while taking the winters off to play basketball at a high level, winning the state championship this year with her high school. Keyna will be a great fit at UCO and we're excited for her to bring her skills and hard-working personality to Edmond.

Paige Jones: Edmond, Oklahoma
Jones rows for OKC Riversport Junior Crew and was named Novice of the Year for 2018-19 when she was also Novice Captain.
From Coach: Paige was our first commit for this year's class, we loved how she jumped into the process and made it clear to us that UCO is where she wanted to spend her next 4 years. Paige is a leader, and a skilled part of a strong high school club team, OKC RIVERSPORT. She's had great coaching and is proficient in any boat and any seat. Paige is a do-everything type of athlete whose versatility and attitude will be huge assets next year.

Emily Overholt: Grand Rapids, Michigan
A coxswain for Forest Hills Northern High School and a team captain in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, Overholt is also a member of USA Para Badminton Team.
From Coach: Emily is a talented coxswain who has been a leader for her rowing team both on and off the water. Emily's brought an excitement for UCO and the opportunities we have here for coxswains that's made us excited to work with her. When she came on her visit we could tell Emily has the personality traits needed to be a successful coxswain, and we're thrilled she'll be with us the next 4 years.

Brynn McLeroy: Tuttle, Oklahoma
McLeroy rowed and played softball at Oscar A. Carlson High School in Michigan, before she moved to Tuttle. She earned the Athletic Achievement Award her second year of rowing
From Coach: Brynn is still relatively new to rowing, but she has shown an aptitude in her short time and limited experience that belies a potential to grow and improve even further. We appreciated Brynn's love of the sport and her passion to be at a place where she could pursue her desire to row and her academics at the same time.

Kaylin Niemyer: Cashion, Oklahoma
Played basketball at Cashion High School and was a state runner-up in 2018. She won four consecutive district championships and made two state tournament appearances.
From Coach: Kaylin is a great athlete who has a tenacity and drive we loved. After watching her play basketball in practice, Coach Hannah knew Kaylin had an athletic skill set and mindset that would translate well to our sport. We're excited to teach Kaylin how to row and watch her apply her athleticism and toughness to rowing.

Sareena Barker: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
A swimmer from Broken Arrow High School, Barker is a four-year state finalist, four-year regional finalist and medalist, and a two-year state medalist. She was team captain and an All-Conference selection.
From Coach: Sareena is a talented swimmer who has been consistently successful in high school at the state level. She comes from a family of great athletes and has the height and work ethic to develop into a great rower. It was clear to us from her visit that Sareena and her family are a great fit for UCO and we're eager to get her out on the water.

Reagan Conrad: Bethany, Oklahoma
A three-sport standout from Bethany High School, Conrad earned three regional titles in volleyball and one in basketball, and a district championship in soccer.
From Coach: Reagan has had an excitement and enthusiasm for UCO from day one that makes us so excited to coach her. We were drawn to Reagan's success in all 3 of her high school sports, as well as the intangibles we heard about from people who know her well. Reagan will be a great addition to the team and we're excited to bring her enthusiasm and positivity into the group.

Kelby Carlson: Enid, Oklahoma
Carlson is a multi-sport standout from Enid. She played softball and competed in track for Chisholm High School. She won two state championships in track & field (2018 and 2019), and a district championship in softball. Carlson was an FCA All-State recipient and was also named VYPE FCA athlete of the month.
From Coach: Kelby has had a great track career in high school and is a proven competitor at the state level. We loved her enthusiasm for sports and in particular her desire to dive head first into a new sport and do everything she could to be successful. Kelby has a champion's mindset and it will be fun to watch her apply that to rowing.

Sophie Bagby: Afton, Oklahoma
Bagby is a multi-sport standout from Adair High School. She played basketball, cross country, and track & field. She is a former state champion in cross country (2016) and basketball (2019) and has earned honors in multiple sports, being recognized as an All-World basketball player by the Tulsa World, as well as earning medalist honors in the 3200-meter relay in both 2017 and 2018.
From Coach: Sophie has had an impressive high school athletics career with state championships in two different sports and numerous accolades on top of that. We were struck by Sophie's passion and excitement for pushing herself to be the best in whatever she does. Sophie is a third generation UCO student, and we're excited to add UCO Rowing into the mix of her family's legacy at UCO.

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