Completed Event: Rowing versus Head of the Oklahoma on October 4, 2025
Final
Rowing
vs Head of the Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Stellar Signees Join Sooners
November 18, 2013 | Rowing
| Signee | Hometown | Team |
| Emily Coffman | Southborough, Mass. | CRI |
| Rubie Hays | Austin, Texas | Texas Rowing Center |
| Cara Hoelzl | Wilton, Conn. | Maritime Rowing Club & New Canaan High School |
| Katie Ognovich | Greensboro, N.C. | High Point Rowing Club |
| Elena Sloan | Shrewsbury, Mass. | Shrewsbury High School |
Elena Sloan, Katie Ognovich, Cara Hoelzl, Rubie Hays and Emily Coffman have signed National Letters of Intent to join OU rowing beginning next season. "We are incredibly excited to welcome our fall signees to the Sooner Family," said OU head coach Leeanne Crain. "They have all excelled in their high school programs and we look forward to working with them to help them reach their potential as Division I athletes."
 Sloan, from Shrewsbury, Mass., has medaled at MPSRA with Lyme-Old Lyme and more recently at CPSRA with Shrewsbury. "Elena is a multi-sport student-athlete with a rowing, basketball and volleyball background," Gartin said. "We are looking forward to working with her and continue her development on and off the water. Elena reached out to us at the beginning of the fall and we a proud to have her coming back to her families' home state and rowing at Oklahoma.” Why Elena Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because I love the academic opportunities and the beautiful campus. However, the best part is the opportunity to row for a coach of Coach Crain's caliber. I am excited to join the OU women's rowing program and be part of the great things being accomplished at the University of Oklahoma."
A native of Greensboro, N.C., Ognovich represented the USA at the 2013 CamAmMex Regatta and was named the 2012-13 Rower of the Year at High Point Rowing Club. "Katie comes to rowing from a swimming, discus and surfing background," Gartin said. "Although rowing for High Point for less than two years she had already earned a spot at the 2013 U.S. Juniors High Performance Camp and rowed at the CanAmMex Regatta. With a strong work ethic and an already solid fitness base we are excited to be working with her next year. We were thrilled when Katie contacted us at the start of the summer and watching her develop over the past several months has been really enjoyable." Why Katie Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because there's really nothing like it. I felt that between the great academics, the school spirit and the support the university shows towards their athletes that Oklahoma is the perfect place for me. "Another reason why I chose OU is the rowing team and the coaches. For me I really wanted a team and the coaches that will challenge and drive me to that next level in rowing. I am so excited to become a Sooner because OU is the perfect place to accomplish my goals and the new goals I set for myself over these next four years in both the classroom and on the water."
Hoelzl, from Wilton, Conn., and a rower for Maritime and New Canaan, stroked her quad to first-place finishes at the 2013 Northeast Regional Championships and at 2012 Club Nationals. "Cara is a strong contributor to the New Canaan High School Crew and Maritime RC juniors," Gartin commented. "She has earned medal finishes in the Quad at Club Nationals and Canadian Henley as well as rowing in the grand finals at Youth Nationals. She is a team player and gets high marks from her coaches at Maritime. Cara came to our attention early in her junior year. Getting to know her and her family over the past year, it is easy to see Cara fitting in to and contributing to our program." Why Cara Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I picked the University of Oklahoma as I know I have the potential to excel both academically and athletically. I loved how every person I met and communicated with on my official visit was so friendly and excited about everything that OU has to offer. I immediately felt at home on the beautiful campus and loved the school spirit! The coaching staff and the team have achieved a tremendous amount in a short period of time and have great goals for the future. I am excited to become a Sooner!"
Hays, out of Austin, Texas, and a student at Westlake High School, is a coxswain and rower for the Texas Rowing Center. "Rubie has really shined this past semester coxing with wins at the Head of the Oklahoma and Head of the Colorado," Gartin said. "She achieved her goal of medaling at the Head of the Hooch and earning 15th at the Head of the Charles while working through traffic with a starting bow number of 85. She has a real positive outlook which is something we look for in our recruited coxswains. It was great recruiting her as she was really enthusiastic in the process and clearly excited about the University of Oklahoma.” Why Rubie Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose the University of Oklahoma because the atmosphere is positive, the school is amazing, and the team is fantastic. I wanted to go to a school where I felt comfortable and at home while still receiving a challenging education and I found that university was Oklahoma. "I also want to go to Oklahoma because of the absolutely incredible coaches and girls on the rowing team; they start and end practice with a smile which is something I can't wait to be a part of!"
A native of Southborough, Mass., Coffman is a coxswain for Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI). "Emily is coxing at a respected and highly competitive program in CRI," said OU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator John Gartin. "She will fit in well here with our coxswains who are competitive on the water, yet work fantastic with one another. Emily is continuing to improve her skills and putting strong effort into becoming a student of rowing working with the great coaches at CRI including Ethan Curran, Brent Bode and Veronika Platzer. "Emily came to us after attending the Sparks Coxswain Camp in Oklahoma City where she loved the rowing environment and discovered the great educational opportunities at OU." Why Emily Chose the University of Oklahoma: "I chose OU because of its strong sense of community. From the first time I stepped on campus I could feel the spirit and closeness of the student body. Being on the rowing team for OU for me is about both having a smaller 'family' within the school and representing something bigger than myself. The school's athletic and academic competitiveness really drew me in from the beginning and I can't wait to be a part of it next year." |
Won silver in the women's 8+ at the 2013 MPSRA Championships 
Sunday, May 10
Sunday, May 14
Sunday, May 15
Saturday, May 15
