Today the OSN Spotlight, presented by Blackbeard Marine, shines on Kiele Erickson!
• Central rowing
• Hometown: Oklahoma City
• Forensic science and biology major expected to graduate in May 2021
• Competed in rowing and cross country at Putnam City North H.S.; rows at UCO
• Favorite team: Seattle Seahawks
• Favorite sports moment – personal: “When my boat was racing FIT (Florida Tech University) whose mascot is a panther, my coxswain called a power move to “make those kitties cry!” I never thought I’d laugh during a race but that did it.”
• Favorite sports moment – overall: “My favorite sports moment overall was the day of the grand-final at the women’s NCAA championship this year. There was this energy of the determination everyone was feeding off of that just made it fun to be a part of. Winning nationals was nice, but my favorite part was working hard for the other women I knew where also working hard for me so we could achieve our goal.”
National champion UCO women’s rowing team. Erickson is No. 1 with the sunglasses. Photo courtesy UCO Photographic Services.
• What do you like most about UCO? “I like the sense of community at UCO. There is an emphasis on diversity at this college, which is something I hold of upmost importance in life. It’s just a great place.”
• Who do you most look up to? “I look up to my mother the most. She’s the type of woman that if you throw her to the wolves and she’ll come back leading the pack. I’ve never seen someone as strong as her both in life and as an athlete. I watched her raise my sister and I on her own all while working everyday putting herself through school, which she rode her bike to everyday instead of driving, and yet still had the time to give me and my sister the world. I strive to be like the woman my mother is, she never takes no as an answer.”
• Goals: “To graduate from UCO with my degree in biology and forensics science and attend the forensics master program they provide. And of course, I want consecutive national championships while rowing for UCO, Row Chos!”