SEC Adds Rowing

NORMAN – The Southeastern Conference announced rowing as the 22nd sport to be sponsored by the league on Friday. The Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas rowing programs will compete in the SEC after spending time in the Big 12 Conference and Conference USA.

SEC athletics directors unanimously voted to add rowing, marking 13 women's sports for which an SEC Championship will be conducted each year. According to SEC Bylaws, a conference championship may be conducted when a minimum of 25% of the conference's members sponsor a sport, and upon approval by league athletics directors.

"It's excellent that the SEC has heartily embraced the sport of rowing," said second-year Oklahoma head rowing coach Sarah Trowbridge. "Sponsoring one of the original intercollegiate sports and putting these powerful rowing programs on the SEC stage is a great move for athletes and the conference alike. We look forward to making this the most eminent conference championship in the country."

The Sooners will test the waters with their new conference foes at the first SEC Rowing Championship in May 2025. A race site has yet to be determined.

"The addition of Oklahoma and Texas provides the opportunity to support a new SEC championship experience for rowing student-athletes," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "We look forward to providing support to the growth of the sport of rowing in the Southeastern Conference."

Oklahoma Rowing is in its 17th season of competition after the program competed in its inaugural season in 2008-09. OU won two Big 12 and two Conference USA titles and became the first Big 12 program to compete at the NCAA Rowing Championships, earning a spot at the national event in 2013 and 2014.

In addition to team success, OU has amassed seven conference rower-of-the-year honors and five coach-of-the-year awards.

For more information on Oklahoma Rowing, follow the Sooners on Instagram and X (@OU_Rowing)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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