Three years ago, Anna Kirk was recovering from surgery to fix her scoliosis — a condition that causes curvature of the spine. On her doctor's advice, she needed to find an activity that could help strengthen her back.
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Kirk went to watch friends, John Busche and Lauren Moss, in a rowing competition. Kirk was mesmerized.
"It was such a unique experience,” Kirk said. "I fell in love with the sport, and wanted to try it.”
She excelled, spending the past three years as a varsity member on the Chesapeake Junior Crew rowing team. Now, Kirk, Busche and Moss — all Classen School of Advanced Studies graduates — are one month away from beginning their collegiate rowing careers.
Kirk received a rowing scholarship to Louisville, a school with a top-20 Division I program.
She will be a coxswain, the person who steers the boat, gives commands, and follows the race plans.
"I'm super excited. I never thought I'd get this big of an opportunity,” Kirk said. "Rowing for anybody with back and knee problems — it's a low-impact sport, and it works your whole body. My doctor's really happy with the strength I've found through rowing.”
Busche, who medaled twice at U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals, is taking his considerable rowing and academic talents to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Busche was a National Merit Finalist, scored a 2230 on his SAT, and was a valedictorian at Classen SAS.
"It's very intimidating, but also exciting,” he said. "It's going to be a culture shock — being in Boston — and a big adjustment of lifestyle.
"I'm just ready for a change of scenery. I want to go someplace colder.”
Moss will compete at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania.
As a whole, the three students and their diverse destinations are more evidence that opportunities for collegiate rowing continue to grow, even in Oklahoma.
"We went to nationals our first year in Ohio (in 2006). A lot of them talked down to us, because it's mainly an East, West coast sport,” Kirk said. "But we won our first heat by quite a lot. The Kansas City coach came up to us and thanked us and was so proud that we represented our region.”
There are 11 master rowers going to Long Beach, CA in August to compete in the Masters Rowing Nationals. Would you be interested in another story about some local adult rowers competing on a national level?
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Terri Barnhart