In her second year as a Graduate Assistant rowing coach is Andrea Messenger.
Andrea is in her sixth year with the University of Central Oklahoma rowing program. She walked on to the team in 2014 as a novice rower and continued with the team until 2018, culminating her career with an NCAA Division II national championship in May 2018. She also helped the Bronchos win back-to-back national titles, moving from rower to coach in 2019.
From Enid, Okla., Andrea was a multi-sport athlete in high school. She had the opportunity to try out and row for the Bronchos within her first semester at UCO. By her second year in the sport, she placed third in the 2- at the Dad Vail Regatta and traveled with the team to the 2016 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
In the 2016-2017 season, Andrea found herself in the Varsity 8+. As three-seat in the boat, she helped the team win its first Dad Vail Regatta and its first NCAA DII National Championship Varsity 8+ race. As a senior and co-captain, the 2017-2018 season found her in the same boat but at four-seat where she was a part of the programs first Varsity 8+ undefeated DII season.
She rowed in the V8+ that won the 2018 NCAA DII National Championships and added enough points to win the team’s first national championship. Messenger earned honors such as CRCA Scholar-Athlete 2018, First Team All-WIRA honors 2018, and Second Team All-American in 2018.
Messenger is finishing up her Biology and Kinesiology/Exercise Fitness Management degrees. After graduating she hopes to pursue a masters in either Athletic Training or Sports Coaching.
Â
