Women's Rowing 8/27/2020 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Rowing Announces Backyard Bronchos Program

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma rowing team is looking for the best athlete in Oklahoma interested in becoming a member of the nationally-renowned Broncho program.

This is the inaugural year of the "Backyard Broncho" program, where the rowing team is offering a one year, 12-hour tuition and fees scholarship to the best athlete in Oklahoma who applies. No prior rowing experience is needed, and athletes from all sports are encouraged to apply for consideration. Decisions regarding the awarding of the scholarship will be made based on athletic accomplishments and potential in the sport of rowing, as determined by the UCO coaches.

"We've had incredible success with athletes who played other sports in high school and decide they want to become rowers here at UCO," Central head rowing coach Brian Ebke said. "In fact, both of our national championship winning squads were over 50 percent walk-ons who had never rowed before they got to UCO.

"We know there are some phenomenal athletes playing many different sports in this state," Ebke said. "And we're hoping a few of them are excited about the opportunity to be a Broncho and compete at the highest level of our sport. It's important to us that we continue to build a team and a program that represents the best of what Oklahoma high school athletics has to offer, and we're hopeful that this is an accessible way to do exactly that. We're excited to build on the legacy of Oklahomans walking on to our program and pursuing academic and athletic success at UCO."

Interested athletes should complete this form.

High School principals, athletic directors and coaches should complete this form on behalf of potential recruits.

Central Oklahoma began rowing in 2008, but in just 12 years has vaulted to the best program in the country. UCO won the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Division II national championship as a team. And the Bronchos won the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Varsity 8+ national title as well as the 2019 Varsity 4+ national title. UCO has 17 student-athletes who have earned the title of All-American a combined 22 times over the past 12 years.

UCO calls the CHK | Central Boathouse its home on the banks of the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City. The boathouse, built in 2015, is an 18,000-plus square foot facility with a near $6 million price tag. It stands as one of the finest in the country.

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