Maddamma, Pitts, Claussen and Marley sign with OCU

On February 25th, Blake Marley, signed with the OCU Rowing team at Norman North High School, OK. Blake has been rowing with the Oklahoma City Junior Rowing team for the past year with the varisty and lightweight squads. He plans on majoring in business.

Matthew Maddamma, Michael Pitts and Ryan Claussen have also signed with OCU in the last two weeks. Maddamma currently rows for the juniors program at Steel City Rowing Club in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2009, he won the USRowing trials in the single scull advancing to the Junior World Championship in Correzien, France where he placed 4th just two-tneths of a second behind a bronze medal. Maddamma is from Pittsburgh, PA.

Claussen, the first rower to sign with OCU, is from Manhattan, KS and rows with Manhattan Junior Crew. Most recently, he won the Kansas Open Indoor Rowing Championship in Topeka, KS. He plans to major in physics or another natural science.

From Oak Park, IL, Michael Pitts rows with the Lincoln Park Juniors Rowing Club in Chicago. In 2009, his crew qualified for the USRowing Junior National Championship where he placed second in the petit final. Pitts is interested in majoring in justice studies.

In anticipation of the opening of the world class Devon Boathouse, Home of OCU Rowing, in the fall of 2010, the Stars expect to sign many more recruits this spring. Clay Puckett will make his official commitment on Tuesday, March 2nd at Edmond Memorial High School.

Blue-White Luncheon

There are just 2 more Blue-White luncheons remaining in the 2009-2010 school year, and we want you to join us. If you are a fan, friend or family member of OCU athletics, then please join us on Wednesday, at Belle Isle's catering room on the 3rd floor of 50 Penn Place. Lunch is $8.

Dates remaining:
March 10
April 14

3 OCU Rowers Medal and 3 PR at the Dallas SWEAT Erg Competition

Drew McNichols, Hugh Tullos, and Katie Sondag pulled personal best 2k times on Saturday, February 6th at the S.W.E.A.T. (Southwest Ergometer Amatuer Tournament) at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, TX.

In one of the most exciting races of the day, Drew McNichols edged out teammate and doubles partner, Hugh Tullos, in the last few hundred meters finishing the 2,000 meter race in 6:09.3. Hugh pulled an impressive 6:09.7. Earlier in the season, Coach Tempe and Coach Linas challenged the team, "If anyone broke 6:10.0 for a 2k, he would earn a trip to the C.R.A.S.H.-B's (Charles River All-Star Has-Beens) World Erg Championships in Boston, MA." Drew and Hugh won the gold and silver medals in the Men's Collegiate race and posted the first and second fastest times for the entire indoor regatta.

Katie Sondag pulled a 7:47.2 breaking her personal record by almost 10 seconds and beating teammate Megan Duffy by half a second who finished in 7:47.6. The fastest OCU woman, Kathryn Schiro, finished in 7:38.0 winning the silver medal in the Women's Collegiate race.

Wish Drew and Hugh luck as they travel to Boston on February 20th for the CRASH-B's. As a team, the OCU Stars will next compete in the indoor erg competition at the Nadia Comaneci International Gymnasstics Invitational at the Cox Convention center on Saturday, February 24th.

OCU Rowing Celebrates 10 Years in 2010

OCU Rowing has come a long way in 10 years! And as we prepare to open the Devon Boathouse, we want to reconnect with our rowing alumni - the people who played an important role in our past - so they can join us as we head into our future. To kick off the 2010 Head of the Oklahoma we're holding the first-ever OCU Rowing Reunion at the Devon Boathouse, Home of OCU Rowing. We've created a Facebook page as a way to connect with past and present OCU Crew members. Please become a fan and suggest this page to our alumni. You can also RSVP for the reunion via this page. Spread the word! OCU on three...

Jacob Fox selected for nationwide Red Cross Leadership Program

Jacob Fox was one of 13 student-athletes selected to participate in the 2010-11 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. The initiative is now in its fourth year, and will inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of American Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program.

As part of its support of the Red Cross diversity initiatives, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring this partnership. The leadership program kicks off with two weeks of energetic training at the Red Cross National Headquarters located in Washington, D.C. On june 7-18. The incoming class will participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by one of the nation's largest non-profit organizations' senior leaders. In addition, Dr. Rob Haworth, NAIA Vice President for Champions of Character, will hold character workshops during the two-week leadership academy. "Athletics plays such an important role in creating a sense of community on college campuses. The partnership with the NAIA has created a rich opportunity to connect campus communities with the life saving mission of the Red Cross through the energy of NAIA student-athletes," said Brian Hamil, Red Cross National Chair Biomedical Services. : As we enter our fourth year of the program, we remain grateful for the continuing financial support of State Farm Insurance.

This once in a lifetime experience allows NAIA student-athletes to be a part of a team made up of young adults from NAIA campuses throughout the country. The program is part of a larger Red Cross diversity strategy for moving the Red Cross from awareness to action, building Red Cross capacity to serve all Americans. Student-athletes will learn from civic and business leaders how to uncover their leadership potential off the field. The participants will organize successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board, and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. For their efforts, students will receive scholarship support provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.

OCU Rowers participate in winter trianing camp

The varsity women and novice teams trained in a 5 day winter training camp from January 6th to January 10th. Due to a 5 day cold snap where the temperature never broke 32 degrees, the Stars were unable to get on the water. Instead, they trained hard in the pool, at the weight room and on the erg. The team even made a trip to Rocktown for a team building rock climbing workout and cheered on the Oklahoma City Thunder at two NBA games. Special thanks to Kayla and Partick Hurley for providing three meals to our hungry athletes.

OCU Rowing Team Earns 3.3 Team GPA for Fall 2009

The OCU Rowing Team averaged a 3.3 GPA for the Fall 2009 semester. The men's squad earned a 3.1 average while the women achieved a 3.5 average. Special recognition to novice rower, Andrew Stein, on being the only student-rower to close out the semester with straight A's (4.0). Fourteen of OCU's 33 rowers earned a 3.5 or higher: Edgar, Brice, Drew, John, Richard, Briana, Rose, Sara, Chelsea, Ange, Julie, Megan and Jane. The coaching staff is proud of our rowers' accomplishments in the classroom. Please join me in congratulating all of them on a job well-done.