The University of Oklahoma is the lastest school in the nation to add a women's rowing team. The team is entering into its third year.
The rowing squad, led by head coach Leeane Craine, will begin its spring season this weekend in Oklahoma City. The Sooners will compete in the OU Invitational against three other schools. This is the only time the Sooners will be rowing at home this spring.
Being so new at the university and such and uncommon sport, some people may be confused about what exactly the rowing team is, and what they do.
This is what Amber Coyne, junior rower has to say to anyone who does not really know about the sport.
http://gcj.ou.edu/JMC3003-Griffin/leach/definition.mp3
Teams compete three days over a weekend, and the school whose top three boats do the best during the three days are the winners. There are eight rowers in each boat.
In the fall each race is 5000 meters, while in the they are spring 2000 meters, which usually takes around seven minutes to complete.
This year the Sooners have 80 crew members, 32 varsity, and about half are walk-ons. The team has 20 scholarships a year to award the top rowers.
Many members of the team have had no prior rowing experience prior to coming to college. Most played sports in high school, and still have the desire to compete at a high level. The rowing team gives them just that chance.
"Rowing was a great way to stay in shape for me after I graduated from high school," Braxton Banning, former rower said.
"I didn't know a lot about it going in but once I started going it wasn't hard to pick up, and after a few practices, I was hooked," Banning said.
After finishing second last year in the Big 12 in just their second year, the Sooners have high expectations for this upcoming season.
"I think last year the team really suprised some people, and this year we are look to turn some more heads,"Amber Coyne said.
The team will be gunning for Texas the top team in the conference, who has had a rowing program since 1998.
"The team to beat in our minds is Texas, we want that Big 12 championship." Coyne said.
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