OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City University rowing program is pivoting toward strategic growth and refined boat combinations this season, leaning heavily on a motivated senior class and a streamlined competitive focus to elevate both the men's and women's rosters.
 
Following a foundational campaign last year, the Stars men's team enters the fall with an eye on technical progression. Head coach Bryan Volpenhein, who oversees both the men's and women's squads, pointed to early success in the men's pairs, noting that deep roster combinations are already moving smoothly. The primary objective for the men's side remains building upon last year's standout performances, with a specific focus on optimizing speed in the Men's 4 while simultaneously pushing for cleaner execution in sculling events.
 
"The main goal on the men's side is to build off some good results from last year and improve our performance in the Men's 4," Volpenhein said. "We have some room to improve our sculling events too! So far the men's pairs are moving well and we have several good combinations, but overall I've seen some good improvements from last year as a whole."
 
The team will look directly to its veteran upperclassmen to set the training standard. The returning senior core on the men's side features Josef Fruehwirth, Pavle Glisic, Vojin Kovacevic, Ayden Ressler, and Ethan Romburgh. Tasked with cementing the boat rhythm, this upperclassman group is complemented by a deep contingent of returning talent, including underclassmen Nick Burks, Talon Denton, Steven Gwartney, Dominykas Motiejunas, Ilija Panic and Andres Parraga. Together, they provide crucial depth across both sweep and sculling lineups.
 
"I'm excited for our seniors to put together a solid season of training and end on a high note," Volpenhein added.
 
The program's youth movement is expected to pay immediate dividends, highlighted by the addition of newcomer Trent Pfannenstiel. Volpenhein reported that Pfannenstiel has integrated seamlessly into the varsity environment and is projected to make a major impact on the top boat lineups right away.
 
"Trent Pfannenstiel has shown some great potential and fit right in with the team," Volpenhein noted. "I'm thinking he'll make a solid impact right away."
 
On the women's side, the narrative centers on precision. After enduring a slate of grueling races last spring, Volpenhein is implementing an event-specific philosophy for the upcoming cycle, intentionally prioritizing quality over quantity to ensure maximum boat speed. Early indications showcase significant potential in the lightweight women's double scull (Lwt2x). Like the men's squad, the women's program will rely on its senior leadership—including returning veterans Alexis Fredrickson, Lucy Oney, Michelle Guzman, and Amelia Castor—to anchor training standards at the Devon Boathouse and set the rhythm for the underclassmen.
 
"Our women had some tough racing last spring and so this year I want to be more focused on specific events and get better quality vs the quantity we had last year," Volpenhein explained. "I think we have some potential on the women's side in the Lwt2x."
 
The team's tactical execution faces an immediate, high-stakes home test to open the calendar. OCU kicks off the season on its home water by hosting the prestigious Head of the Oklahoma regatta. From there, the team will transition to a challenging travel slate highlighted by a trip to Boston for the legendary Head of the Charles Regatta. The notoriously winding, narrow course presents an elite challenge for any crew, magnified this year as OCU introduces a first-time coxswain to navigate the steering lines.
 
"The Head of the Charles this year will be a big challenge," Volpenhein said. "Our coxswain will race it for the first time and it is a very challenging course."
 
Following the fall campaign, the Stars will transition to their spring championship season, building up through elite regional tests before chasing a spot at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship. The ultimate benchmark for the program remains returning to the national stage to test its refined lineups against the fastest fields in the country.
"In the spring I'm hopeful to get back to the IRA and see what we can do there," Volpenhein concluded.