Rowing Announces 2014-15 Schedule, Includes Four Home Events

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Announce 2014-15 Rowing Schedule, Includes Four Home Events
SMU Opens Season At Head Of The Oklahoma On Oct. 4

Oct. 2, 2014

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU rowing Head Coach Doug Wright has announced the 2014-15 schedule, which includes four home events during the spring portion of the slate.

The Mustangs will travel to a pair of head races during the fall season, including the Head of the Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) and Head of the Colorado (Austin, Texas).

“I am looking forward to the first race this weekend at the Head of the Oklahoma,” Head Coach Doug Wright said. “The weather in Oklahoma this time of year is usually nice for head racing and the venue is not too difficult for younger coxswains or scullers.”

Last season in Oklahoma, the Ponies picked up a pair of top-three finishes with the Novice 8+ crew winning its event. The team continued its success in Austin earing four top finishes.

Head style racing events refer to those that involve shotgun starts and teams racing against the clock on courses approximately three miles long.

“Our varsity crews have been rowing well the last couple of weeks and our freshman rowers have done a good job of settling into our program and intense way of life,” Wright said. “I always look forward to seeing that first year group go to the race course for the first time in their collegiate careers.

“In addition, I am looking forward to seeing how much the returners improved on last year’s performances. That is one of our team’s goals and to have them reach that goal will encourage them to stay on track to improve every time we go out from here through the rest of the year.”

Sprint races begin on March 14 with the Mustangs hosting its first of four events at White Rock Lake in Dallas. In the spring opener, SMU will race Creighton, a team that the Ponies swept at home last season.

The Mustangs return to the San Diego Crew Classic at Mission Bay after a year hiatus from the event March 28-29.

The month of April will be spent on White Rock with events which feature Kansas (April 4), Tulsa (April 18) and Alabama (April 25). In 2014, the Mustang Novice 8+ crew won its event at Alabama, and SMU posted three runner-up finishes at the annual Lawless Cup against Tulsa.

The American Athletic Conference Championship is set for May 16 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey.

“We know that each race is different and offers different challenges, but from the focus and attention I have seen at practice, I am optimistic about their ability to be very competitive,” Wright added.

Check SMUMustangs.com, ‘like’ the Mustangs on Facebook (/SMURowing) and ‘follow’ them on Twitter (@SMURowing) for up-to-date information and ways to follow events.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Sounds like a nice schedule!