OCU Athletics
Rich Tortorelli, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
PRINCETON, N.J. – James Francis from Oklahoma City University has made the U.S. team as part of the lightweight men’s quadruple sculls crew set to row in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships on July 25-29 in Poznan, Poland.
Francis will represent the United States for the second year in a row. Francis, a recent OCU graduate from St. Louis, competed in the lightweight men’s single sculls in the 2017 World Under 23 Championships.
As a senior, Francis teamed with the Stars’ Craig Oldigies to capture the Bob Negaard Cup in the 80th running of the Dad Vail Regatta by winning the men’s pair event May 13 at the Schuylkill River. As a freshman, Francis secured a third-place finish in the men’s collegiate single during the Dad Vail Regatta on May 9, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Fan can help send Francis to the World Rowing Under 23 Championships with a tax-deductible donation to offset the travel expenses by going here.
“Jimmy is making such a powerful impact upon the presently growing momentum for Oklahoma City University rowing,” said Mike Knopp, OCU director of river operations. “All that hard work and dedication and positive outlook really is paying off, and the team, alums, OCU and the boathouse family are super proud to see how far you’ve come and where you are going in the future.”
The roster for the upcoming World Under 23 Championships includes 19 athletes returning from the 2017 under 23 national team. The U.S. will have 22 crews competing at the five-day event. Events include the men’s and women’s single sculls, lightweight single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, lightweight quadruple sculls, pair, lightweight pair, four, four with coxswain, and eight.
Oklahoma City’s Head of the Oklahoma Regatta happens Sept. 29-30 on the Oklahoma River.
