Completed Event: Rowing versus Head of the Oklahoma on October 4, 2025
Final
Rowing
vs Head of the Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Rowing Sign Six to 2013 Recruiting Class
November 21, 2012 | Rowing
Nov. 20, 2012
| Signee | Hometown | Rowing Club |
| Nicasia D'Allesandro | Egg Harbor Township, N.J. | Egg Harbor Township High School |
| Hannah Kloppenburg | Ladue, Mo. | St. Louis Rowing Club |
| Megan Linton | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | Winnipeg Rowing Club |
| Dale Main | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | Sarasota Crew |
| Angela Thompson-Butler | Oklahoma City, Okla. | OKC Riversport |
| Victoria Wallace | San Mateo, Calif. | Stanford Rowing Center |
| Leeanne Crain are proud to announce the signing of five rowers and
a coxswain to National Letters of Intent Tuesday. Nicasia D'Allesandro,
Hannah Kloppenburg, Megan Linton, Dale Main, Angela Thompson-Butler and
Victoria Wallace will join the Sooners for the 2013-14 season. "We are extremely excited to welcome our incoming 2013 freshman class," said Crain. "This is an incredibly strong group of young women and each of them have demonstrated tremendous success on the water and in the classroom. Their work ethic and focus was apparent throughout the recruiting process and we are thrilled that they'll be joining us next fall."
 D'Allesandro is a coxswain from Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and rows at Egg Harbor Township High School. Her rowing accolades include first-place finishes at the Philadelphia City Championships Regatta and the Garden State Scholastic Rowing Championships last season, and a third-place finish at the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championships in 2011. D'Allesandro was accepted into the National Honor Society as a junior and has been a Varsity Scholar the past three years at Egg Harbor High School. "Nic is a strong coxswain who impressed me starting her freshman year in Egg Harbor's freshman crew," OU assistant coach John Gartin said. "She has good boat command and a highly competitive attitude in the boat. I have seen her recover her boat's speed, rhythm and racing spirit even after a devastating crab which could have easily resulted in her crew being a distant sixth. The Oklahoma crews are going benefit from that 'fire to race' with Nic in the coxswain seat." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because of the dedication that the crew team and coaches possess," said D'Allesandro. "I instantly fell in love with the campus, especially the atmosphere at the football games. I knew I could not pass up the opportunity to receive a great education while also being a student-athlete. The amount of positive energy, school spirit and determination to win that I experienced while being on campus made it a perfect fit for me. The moment I got back home to New Jersey I could not stop talking about it."
A native of Ladue, Mo., Kloppenburg is in her fourth year as a member of St. Louis Rowing Club. She helped the varsity eight to a second-place finish at the 2012 Midwest Junior Rowing Championship, advancing to the 2012 USRowing Youth National Championships. Additionally, she placed third out of 82 crews in the varsity four at the Head of the Hooch in 2011 and won the varsity eight races at the St. Louis Sprints and Cincinnati Invitational in 2012. Kloppenburg is a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. "From the moment Hannah came to campus she was a great fit for the Oklahoma Rowing program," said Gartin. "A rower who is already showing good speed and technique, she has tremendous room for development and the work ethic to get there. Furthermore, she clearly understands that rowing is about the crew and not just the individual. She is going to be a great teammate and boat mover at Oklahoma." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "From my first visit, it was easy to imagine being a student-athlete at OU because I immediately felt comfortable there," Kloppenburg said. "The coaches were so nice and it became obvious to me that I wanted to row for their team more than any other. I am so excited to sign and officially become a Sooner."
Linton comes to Norman from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where she has rowed for the Winnipeg Rowing Club since 2010. Named the Junior Athlete of the Year in 2011 by the club, she has represented her province, Team Manitoba, and has posted top-five finishes at the Head of the Oklahoma in both 2011 and 2012. An honor roll student since seventh grade, Linton attends Saint Mary's Academy and is also an accomplished swimmer as a member of the Manitoba Provincial team. "Megan is a solid athlete who started rowing only two years ago, but has already made the Manitoba Provincial team in both rowing and swimming," said Gartin. "She is accomplished in small boats, including top finishes in the single here at the Head of the Oklahoma. Megan made a great impression on the staff and team when she visited, reinforcing our desire to work with her. A 4.0 student, we are excited to get her into the Oklahoma fours and eights." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because of the passionate atmosphere that envelops the entire town of Norman, and especially the University itself," Linton said. "The University has very strong academic programs that fill all my academic aspirations. The girls on the rowing team are extremely competitive, but when all is said and done they are still extremely close friends, which is incredible."
A native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Main moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 2004 and has been rowing since eighth grade. She currently is a team captain for Sarasota Crew and is a four-time Florida State Champion in the pair, double, quad, four and eight. Main also is a three-time Southeast Regional Champion in the pair, eight and double and has competed at the National Scholastic Rowing Championships the past three seasons. Main has been on the Student Advisory Council for three years at Riverview High School. "Dale is the quiet athlete that leads by example who certainly earned her captaincy through effort and hard work," said Gartin. "She is always clearly engaged and passionate about being better every day at practice, a sure sign she is going be solid in a race. Dale's success in small and big boats at a highly respected and highly competitive rowing club shows how hard she has worked over the past several years. An athlete who loves to practice, she is a great fit for Oklahoma Rowing." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I Chose the University of Oklahoma as my home for the next four years not only because it will be a quality education and great athletics program to further my rowing career, but I believe it will be the best place for me to thrive as a young adult," Main said.
From Oklahoma City, Thompson-Butler has become very familiar with the Sooners' home course, having rowed for Oklahoma City Riversport on the Oklahoma River. Her fall racing was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Head of the Charles in the eight and a second-place finish in eight and the quad at the Head of the Hooch. She also helped win her race in the four and the eight, finished second in the quad and fourth in the double at the Head of the Oklahoma. A National Honor Society honoree and a member of the Principal's Honor Roll, Thompson-Butler is a senior at Harding Charter Preparatory High School. "Angela, a strong student-athlete, is representative of the high quality rower being developed at the Oklahoma Riversport junior program," said Gartin. "She stood out as a junior last year when I first visited the OKC junior's practice and she has the work ethic to continue to get stronger and faster. She is a proven winner, exemplified this fall with a medal in the eight at the 2012 Head of the Charles and medals in the eight, four and quad from the 2012 Head of the Hooch. We are excited and proud that she will be staying in state and joining the University of Oklahoma." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because it is a very prestigious university," Thompson-Butler said. "On my visit I was very impressed by the support they have for their student-athletes and their camaraderie within the programs. It also has a strong foundation in sports and the rowing team is relatively new. I am looking forward to being able to contribute to the development of the program."
Wallace is from San Mateo, Calif., and rows for the Stanford Juniors. She won the novice quad event at the Southwest Junior Regionals last spring, and won the double and quad at the Head of the Oklahoma this fall. She also helped her boats to first-place finishes in the double and quad at the 2012 Head of the American and 2012 Head of the Lagoon this fall. At Everest High School, Wallace earned the Responsibility Award and participated in the Perry Program at UCSF, which inspired her to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery. "Victoria is an impact student-athlete who in only a year has developed into a highly accomplished rower," said Gartin. "This fall she has helped her double and quad go undefeated in four head races, including the Head of the Oklahoma and Head of the American. We are looking forward to see her continued development this spring. We know she is going to bring very good speed and an exceptional work ethic to the University of Oklahoma next fall." Why I Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I love the University of Oklahoma for the school spirit," Wallace remarked. "Everyone represents their Sooner pride throughout campus. The energy is fantastic." |
4th
place in the lightweight 4+ at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta
Sunday, May 10
Sunday, May 14
Sunday, May 15
Saturday, May 15
