The Tulsa Youth Rowing Association had a successful out in Oklahoma City this past weekend. The club won a silver medal and two bronze medals in various events, demonstrating progress to a higher level of performance.
In the women’s under-17 age category Emory Oakes (Lincoln Christian) and Halee McMahan (Booker T. Washington) won the silver medal in the women’s under-17 double. Both athletes have worked exceptionally hard this past summer, and all of their efforts paid off in an excellent result to start the fall season for the club.
“I’m glad Emory and I were able to start the season well with a medal. It keeps me motivated to do just as well at the next regatta. I think the team’s motivating atmosphere made a difference, and it felt like everyone was there to support each other.” said McMahan of her performance in the double and the team overall.
“I’m grateful for the team and coaches who have trained for this race through the summer and the start of the fall season. Halee and I are thrilled with our result in a very competitive 2x race. I love this team and expect great results in the regattas ahead of us,” said Emory Oakes.
TYRA won the bronze medal in the men’s youth novice four. The crew consisted of Will Johns (Owasso), Oliver Cornelius (Carver), Joey Pace (Owasso), Jacob McKinny (Owasso), and Coxswain El Tucker (Booker T. Washington). This result indicates strong early performance from a young crew of novice athletes.
Halee McMahan placed 6th in the women’s U-17 single sculls, with Emory Oakes placing 11th in the same event.
The boy’s varsity quad of Sam Derricot (Owasso), Jacob McKinny (Owasso), Andrew Johns (Owasso), and Luke Brightmire (Bishop Kelley) placed 3rd in the petite final of the night sprints, a 500m race on Saturday evening that took place during the evening hours under the floodlights lining the Oklahoma River.
“We had an awesome weekend racing at the UCO Head of the Oklahoma this past weekend. TYRA Athletes raced very well and represented the city and the program in a very professional manner. Going into this first race of the season is also a little nerve-wracking since you have no clue where your team stacks up against others. It is an event where you need to rely on the fitness and technique you’ve built in the month and a half leading up to the race, which we did. It makes me very proud to see every athlete leave everything on the racecourse this weekend, and I know that we are even more motivated to come out on top throughout the rest of our season!” said Head Coach Valentino Angelini.
Other notable results included a 7th-place finish for Emory Oakes (Lincoln Christian), Caroline Briggs (Holland Hall), Kaitlyn Boxley (Jenks), and Halee McMahan (Booker T. Washington) in the women’s varsity quad.
“All in, it was a super positive start to the season, and it was an awesome weekend to be a Tulsan! Now we have our sights set on the Music City Head Race in Nashville, TN, at the end of the month,” said Head Coach Angelini.
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