CAMDEN, N.J. – Ayden Ressler and Dominykas Motiejunas claimed a national championship for Oklahoma City University rowing last weekend at the Dad Vail Regatta, hosted by Thomas Jefferson University.
 
The Dad Vail is one of the oldest and largest collegiate rowing competitions. Crews from across the country came to compete, ranging from club programs to top NCAA Division I on the water with OCU.
 
"This is the Inaugural National Championships for the Sculling Events, so it was exciting to have our 2x come away with the win," said OCU Head Coach 
Bryan Volpenhein. "I'm happy with how all our crews competed. They left it all on the water. With such a young team the future is bright!" 
 
Ressler and Moteijunas won the men's double, taking the gold medal by covering the 2000 meters in 6:53.143. The pair highlighted a strong showing by the Stars. Talon Denton and Andres Parraga were 16th in that event at 9:08.254.
 
Lucy Oney placed second in the women's single scull in 8:45.53 to lead the women's team. OCU's freshman/novice coxed four squad of Alexis Fredrickson, Amelia Castor, Annabella Osunkwo, Makayla Munoz and Caitlyn Koekemoer was 13th at 8:57.800.
 
Cameron Knopp and Steven Gwartney earned the silver medal in the men's pair, finishing the course in 7:43.113.
 
The men's quad placed third as Joseph Fruehwirth, Jack Fruehwirth, Nick Burks and Arias Santiago crossed in 6:45.772.
 
With Keaton Knopp as coxswain, Ethan Romburgh, Vojin Kovacevic, Pavle Glisic and Koekemoer as coxswain, the OCU's men's four of was fifth at 6:45.231.
 
The men's four races next on May 30-June 1 at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, also in New Jersey.