12/26/2009

We are now at the end of another year of rowing and I thought that it would be appropriate to summarize all of the progress that the club has made over the past year. As I review all of the accomplishments and growth over these last twelve months, I wonder what the club will accomplish in the next year and looking even father forward to the next decade. I think that it is incredible that we have accomplished. My thanks go to everyone for their support our club and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Jan

In late January we held our 5th annual Row-A-Thon fundraiser. This was a terrific event for us as our athletes rowed more distance than we had ever rowed before and more importantly raised more money than ever (approx $17,000). I continue to be impressed with the level of investment that our athletes display in their program. The Row-A-Thon is an important event and provides our student athletes the opportunity to give back to something that benefits them greatly.

Feb

In early February our team traveled to Dallas, TX to complete in the Southwest Ergometer Amateur Tournament. This was a fantastic event for us and gives a good indication of the fitness levels that we have developed over the winter. Our club featured well winning six gold medals. It also bears mentioning that of all of our athletes that attended the event; almost everyone recorded a personal best on the machine at the event. TRC placed first in the Men's Junior Novice, Men's Lightweight, Women's Junior Novice, Men's Open, Men's Masters 30-30, Women's Open Lightweight, and won silver medals in the Women's Junior Novice and Women's Lightweight Novice. This was obviously a strong showing for the club and probably our best showing ever at this event.

SWEAT Results (Juniors Only)

Gold
Women's Junior Lightweight Novice
Men's Junior Novice
Men's Lightweight
Men's Open

Silver
Women's Junior Novice
Women's Junior Lightweight Novice

Mar

Heart of Texas Results

Gold
Mixed Open Double
Men's Open Pair
Mixed Masters Eight
Women's Masters Single (C-J)
Men's Masters Single (AA-B)
Mixed Masters Double (AA-B)

Silver
Mixed Open Eight
Women's Junior Eight
Women's Open Quad
Women's Masters Quad (AA-B)

Bronze
Women's Junior Novice Eight
Men's Junior Four
Women's Open Double
Men's Junior Single

First Ever Spring Break Trip to Oak Ridge, TN

During the spring break period, we took a group of 14 athletes to train for the week at Oak Ridge, TN. This was one of the most enjoyable experiences that we have had since the program started. The athletes made great progress in terms of technique and their physiology. It was also a great time of fellowship. I know that the athletes enjoyed their long distance rows in the small boats in the afternoon. It was nice to not have an agenda other than get some mileage in.

Apr

St. Louis Sprints Results

Gold
Women's Novice Eight
Women's Novice Quad
Women's Novice Four
Men's Varsity Quad

Silver
Men's Novice Eight
Women's Novice Quad
Men's Varsity Quad

Bronze
Men's Varsity Double
Men's Varsity Quad
Women's Varsity Double

In April we proposed a new scholastic rowing club at Cascia Hall. This represented a significant amount of progress as now Holland Hall and Cascia Hall have rowing teams. This past season there were fourteen students from Cascia Hall rowing on the team. This is the largest contingent that we have ever seen at the school.

Tulsa Route 66 Regatta was the largest regatta ever in Tulsa, OK. The regatta raised $8,200 for the club. This event was a resounding success and brought in 200 entries from fourteen teams from five different states.

Gold
Mixed Open Double
Girls Junior Four
Men's Open Pair
Women's Masters Single
Mixed Masters Double
Women's Junior Eight
Women's Masters Quad
Men's Masters Double
Mixed Masters Eight
Men's Masters Single
Men's Open Four
Parent/Child Open Double
Women's Masters Double
Men's Masters Quad
Mixed Junior Eight

Silver
Women's Open Quad
Mixed Masters Quad
Mixed Masters Eight
Mixed Open Four
Mixed Junior Eight

Bronze
Mixed Masters Double
Men's Junior Quad
Women's Open Double
Mixed Masters Quad
Women's Novice Eight
Women's Masters Quad
Men's Open Single
Women's Junior Novice Four
Men's Masters Quad

Needless to say, following this impressive display of results, TRC retained the point's trophy for the year. Great job team!

May

Central District Regional Championship Results

Gold
Girls Varsity Eight - Regional Champions
Girls Novice Four - Regional Champions

Silver
Boys Varsity Eight - Regional Runner's Up
Girls Novice Eight - Regional Runner Up

Bronze
Boys Novice Four
Girls Varsity Four

June
US Rowing Youth Nationals Results
Girls Varsity Eight places in the top 20 at USRowing Youth Nationals.

July

In July the club purchased a V1 shell from Vespoli to provide the girls varsity a top level racing shell. In addition, we purchased a coxed quad from Oakridge, TN to help supplement the gROWth program. In addition, during the summer the adult learn to row program saw a dramatic increase in the amount of adults learning to row for the first time.

Aug
The Juniors program starts season with 58 athletes (including gROWth program) - a all time high for the program in the history of youth rowing in Tulsa.

Senior Worlds Trials
2nd- Men's Lightweight Pair

Masters Nationals

Silver
Silver Women's A-AA 4x
Silver Mixed A 2x
Silver Mixed A 4x (composite with 1 member of Austin Rowing Club)

Bronze
Bronze Women's A 2x
Bronze Men's Lightweight A 1x

Sept
In September we launched our first middle school learn to row program called gROWth. This program was coached by Maggie Miller and involved twelve 7th and 8th grade students from schools all around the area. The program runs three days per week and the kids have reported that they love being on the water and getting a feel for the boat for the first time.

At the current time of writing the gROWth program is almost fully enrolled for the 2010 spring season. This is incredible considering that the spring session does not start until March 1st.

Oct

Head of the Oklahoma Results

Gold
Women's Open Lightweight Single
Men's Open Lightweight Single
Girls Varsity Eight
Mixed Masters Double

Silver
Boys Varsity Four
Girls Varsity Four
Women's Masters Double
Mixed Youth Eight
Men's Youth Rec Single
Women's Masters Quad (Composite)

Bronze
Girls Varsity Four
Women's Youth Novice Four
Men's Youth Rec Single

Head of the Charles, Boston MA

Boys Youth Four (44 out of 76 boats)
Girls Youth Four (51 out of 77 boats)

Wichita Frostbite Results

Gold
Women's Open Quad
Mixed Open Quad
Men's Masters Single
Women's Club Double
Girls Junior Four
Girls Junior Eight
Boys Junior Four
Boys Junior Single

Silver
Men's Masters Single (42-51)
Mixed Open Double
Mens Open Quad
Women's Masters Single (27-41)
Women's Masters Single (42-51)
Boys Second Novice Eight
Boys Varsity Four

Bronze
Mixed Open Quad
Boys Junior Single

Nov
Tulsa Rowing Club Juniors compete at the Head of the Hooch for the first time in the history of the program. This event is the second largest regatta event in the US Rowing calendar. The weather was fantastic and the athletes had a great time competing at the venue.

Girls Varsity Eight (14 out of 46)
Boys Varsity Four (28 out of 62)
Boys Varsity Four (51 out of 62)
Boys Varsity Four (60 out of 62)
Boys Novice Four (35 out of 40)
Boys Varsity Eight (27 out of 48)
Girls Varsity Four (11 out of 74)
Girls Varsity Four (34 out of 74)
Girls Varsity Four (35 out of 74)
Girls Novice Four (40 out of 42)
Boys Youth Double (40 out of 43)

This was a strong first showing for the club and bodes well for future trips to Tennessee. It is not possible to send every athlete in our program to the Head of the Charles so it was important for our program to attend this event and compete against some of the fastest programs in the country.

Dec
At the end of the year we completed a demanding winter training schedule. In addition, Jenks senior Courtaney Miller signed a letter of intent to attend S.M.U. to row on their team for her collegiate career.

As you can see from the list of accomplishments above, it has been a terrific year for the club. At the time of writing, the boathouse expansion is nearing completion and almost ready for 2010. This marks a significant chapter in our club's growth and success over the past ten years. I am thankful to the club for meeting the needs in our rowing community and look forward to all of the opportunities that it will provide as we move forward.

Happy New Year to Everyone!