Women's Rowing 4/13/2022 4:21:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 1 Central Set For SIRA Championships

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – No. 1 ranked Central Oklahoma is set for a big weekend on the water as the Bronchos take on the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships Friday and Saturday on Melton Hill Lake.

Preliminary racing is scheduled to begin just after noon eastern time Friday with semifinal and championship racing scheduled for Saturday morning.

Central Oklahoma will see competition from both Division I and Division II levels. The Bronchos will have the opportunity this weekend to compete against some boats it could see at nationals in May.

"We're looking forward to this weekend," UCO head rowing coach Brian Ebke said. "It's a big event with great racing. It'll really test us. But we think it's going to help us moving forward into the postseason to make sure we are at our best."

Central Oklahoma's Varsity 8+ squad will be led by coxswain Yesenia Gil-Salazar. The senior was a national champion in the fours last Spring and has led the eights in the latter part of this season.

She'll be leading Kenna Chamlee (stroke), Danielle Dick, Keyna Holleman, Faith Brooks, Hope Brooks, Allison Staley, Sage Kroeker, and Kelsey Woellmer (bow).

UCO's Varsity 4+ boat will be led by three-time national champion and All-American Madisyn Kitchell. She'll be joined by Morgan McBurnett (stroke), Danielle Holle, Sinead Quirke and Cameron Pence (bow).

The Bronchos are also scheduled to compete in a few novice races.

Hannah Legleiter, Audra Hempfling, Katelyn Hedger, Kylie Eagan and Ashley Brady will race in the Novice 4+. Emily Overholt, Keondra Whisenhunt and Anya Landrowski will race in an Open 2+. And Overholt, Allie Schein and Macie Cohlmia will race in a second Open 2+ event.

Central Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in the country in the latest CRCA national poll. The Bronchos, national championship winners in 2018, 2019 and 2021, are preparing for the postseason run in 2022.

UCO is scheduled to race in the SIRA Championships this weekend, the GNAC Championships May 14, and then will look to contend for a fourth consecutive national championship in Sarasota, Florida the last weekend of May.

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Players Mentioned

Yesenia Gil-Salazar: Sophomore; Varsity

Madisyn Kitchell: 5' 6"; Senior; Varsity

Allison Staley: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Varsity

Keondra Whisenhunt: Sophomore; Varsity

Kelsey Woellmer: 5' 6"; Freshman; Varsity

Sage Kroeker: Freshman; Varsity

Faith Brooks: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Varsity

Hope Brooks: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Varsity

Kenna Chamlee: 5' 11"; Senior; Varsity

Danielle Dick: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Varsity

Players Mentioned

Yesenia Gil-Salazar
: Sophomore; Varsity

Madisyn Kitchell
: 5' 6"; Senior; Varsity

Allison Staley
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Varsity

Keondra Whisenhunt
: Sophomore; Varsity

Kelsey Woellmer
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Varsity

Sage Kroeker
: Freshman; Varsity

Faith Brooks
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Varsity

Hope Brooks
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Varsity

Kenna Chamlee
: 5' 11"; Senior; Varsity

Danielle Dick
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Varsity