Rowing Team Adds New Members

Aug. 26, 2008

NORMAN, Okla.- This year marks the first for women's rowing at OU. The University of Oklahoma and the program is being built by new coaches and athletes, and head coach Leeanne Crain recently announced the first 12 additions to the squad.

Five of the incoming recruits are transfers from the University of Central Florida, where head coach Leeanne Crain and assistant coaches Andy Derrick and Kris Muhl previously coached.

The recruits transferring from UCF are Samantha Fahed, Alexandra Gray, Meagan Harrell, Amanda Hoffman and Melea McCreary. Other recruits include Alexandra Horton, Brittany Kirkland, Kiley Poppino, Brooke Sheppard, Isabelle Stewart and Bronwyn Tawney.

Crain expresses her enthusiasm about coaching familiar faces, as well as those she has not yet had the opportunity to work with.

"I am excited to begin training for the upcoming season," said Crain. "We've got a solid group to start, especially with the five transfers from UCF. It's unfortunate that four of the five will be sitting this year out due to not being granted the one-time transfer exception, but they will still play an important role providing leadership to our underclassmen in practice."

The importance of establishing a program often depends on its team members, and Crain believes the sport will catch on quickly due to their own eagerness. She also says that those who have never experienced rowing can also be an asset to the team.

"Our freshmen class is filled with some standout athletes including some rowers and some out-of-sport athletes who will be picking up an oar for the first time this fall," said Crain. "We are expecting a large number of walk-ons to attend tryouts in September, which will help us build a fast novice program that will feed our varsity program next year."

Below is a list of the new recruits with a brief list of past accomplishments and what Head Coach Leeanne Crain had to say about their additions to the team:

Meagan Harrell | Junior | Norfolk, Va. | Great Bridge High School
Major is planned programs with an emphasis in social sciences ... Transfer from University of Central Florida ... Member of second varsity eight freshman season ... Rowed in stroke seat of the varsity eight at the 2007 Head of the Oklahoma ... Suffered injury last spring that kept her out of racing during spring 2008 season ... Had wrist surgery last spring and ended up redshirting 2008 season ... Has three seasons of eligibility remaining ... Rowed three years in high school for Great Bridge Crew Club (won three consecutive regional championships, placed third at CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships in lightweight category) ... Also played two years of high school basketball.

Coach Crain on Harrell:
"Meagan is one of the most tenacious individuals I've ever coached. She is always the hardest working athlete in practice and is a great role model for her teammates."

Quote from Meagan Harrell about why she transferred to OU:
"I transferred to OU because I wanted to be a part of the rich athletic tradition here. I wanted to be a part of the building process in helping to turn OU Rowing into a national caliber team later down the road. The biggest reason I came to OU was to row for Coach Crain. She is a great coach, she gave me the opportunity to row for her two years ago, and I just couldn't let that opportunity pass me now."

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Samantha Fahed | Longwood, Fl. | Lake Mary High School
Major is psychology ... Transfer from University of Central Florida ... Member of 2008 novice squad that won bronze at South/Central Regionals and had an overall record of 38-3 ... Played high school lacrosse, served as team captain and was the Coaches Award Winner.

Coach Crain on Fahed:
"Sam was in and out of the top novice eight at UCF this past spring, always challenging for a seat. She's a fighter, and as she continues to develop her skills, she will make an impact."

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Melea McCreary | Tampa, Fl. | West Springfield High School, Va.
Major is communications and journalism ... Transfer from University of Central Florida ... Stroke of the 2008 novice eight that defeated Texas, Kansas State, and Iowa at the Longhorn Invitational ... Rowed three seat for the remainder of the season ... Third place finish at NCAA South/Central Regionals ... High school sports included swimming and rowing ... Swim team captain ... Swimming District, Region and State medalist ... Virginia High School Sportswomen of the Year Award.

Coach Crain on McCreary:
"Melea was a very strong leader on the novice squad at UCF. I expect her to be one of the more vocal athletes on the team this year. It's good to have that kind of leadership, especially as we start up a new program."

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Amanda Hoffman | Dunedin, Fl. |Dunedin High School
Major is Meteorology ... Transfer from UCF ... Served as coxswain of the novice eight that earned a bronze medal at South/Central Regionals ... High school sports included soccer, softball and swimming ... Senior class president.

Coach Crain on Hoffman:
"Amanda has the perfect balance of intellect and competitive drive that make her a force on the racecourse. She's developing into a great coxswain and I'm really looking forward to working with her this year."

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Ally Gray | Valrico, Fl. | Bloomingdale High School
Major is chemical engineering ... Transfer from UCF ... Rowed five seat in novice eight during 2007-2008 season ... High school sports included volleyball (team captain) ... Won District Championships in volleyball in 2006-07 ... Volleyball First Team Western Conference MVP.

Coach Crain on Gray:
"Ally has a tremendous amount of potential as a college rower. She's got the size and athletic ability to become one of our fastest athletes this year."

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Ali Horton | Argyle, Texas | Liberty Christian School
Major is international business ... Played high school basketball, volleyball, tennis, track, softball, and golf ... Basketball 2008 All-State, All-District, All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year ... Won basketball state championships in 2007 and 2008 ... Basketball second team All-District in 2007 ... Basketball state runner-up in 2006.

Coach Crain on Horton:
"Ali is a product of a great high school basketball program, and is a gifted athlete. She will be a great asset to our novice program this year. "

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Brittany Kirkland | Fort Worth, Texas | Liberty Christian School
Major is nursing ... Played high school volleyball, basketball, swimming, track and field, and soccer ... Basketball team captain, defensive player of the year, Warrior Heart Award and Eagle Spirit Award... Won three state championships in basketball.

Coach Crain on Kirkland:
"Brittany is another out-of-sport athlete with great athletic ability."

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Kiley Poppino | Dallas, Texas | Highland Park High School
Major is special education ... Rowed for Highland Park Crew Team in high school ... Earned the Coaches Award in 2006-07.

Coach Crain on Poppino:
"Kiley's experience from Highland Park Crew will carry over into her role as a coxswain at OU. Her father played baseball at Oklahoma, so she was born a Sooner."

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Brooke Sheppard | Lawton, Okla. | Eisenhower High School
Major is economics ... Valedictorian of high school class ...High school sports included swimming and track and field ... MVP in track and field ... State qualifier in swimming ... Swim team captain ... Placed 11th at state in the shot put.

Coach Crain on Sheppard:
"Brooke was a successful high school swimmer and track and field athlete. She's got the size at 5'11" to become an effective rower at the collegiate level."

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Isabelle Stewart | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Harding Charter Preparatory School
Major is undecided ... Rows for Chesapeake Boathouse ... Member of the Air Force ROTC at OU ... Played basketball, softball, and golf in high school ... 2004-05 Female Athlete of the Year ...2006-07 MVP in basketball ... Earned Most Athletic Senior award ... Made All-Tournament basketball team.

Coach Crain on Stewart:
"Izzy has only been rowing for a year, but is familiar with Oklahoma City rowing, as she competed with the Chesapeake juniors."

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Bronwyn Tawney | Tulsa, Okla. | Jenks High School
Major is interior design ... Rowed for Tulsa Rowing Club in 2007-08 and won the "Tough As Nails" award ... Gymnast for 14 years and won a regional championship in ... All-State competitor for seven consecutive years.

Coach Crain on Tawney:
"Bronwyn coxed for Tulsa Rowing Club this past year, and did a great job at the junior level. We're excited to have her join us this season."

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NOTES: Fahed, McCreary, Hoffman, and Gray will redshirt this season, as they were not granted the one-time transfer exception by UCF.

Several members of the 2007-2008 OU Club Rowing Team will be trying out for the OU varsity squad this fall. Names on the roster so far include Rory Blackburn, Teddi Dwyer, Elena Engles, Chelsea Moore, Michael Owen, Paige Payne, and Jessica Trilli.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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