Juniors Rowing

Juniors Rowing Coach Bios

Sarah Gehrke

Sarah Gehrke

Head Women's Coach

Sarah Gehrke

Head Women's Coach

Sarah Gehrke is the Women’s Head Coach for OKC Riversport Juniors Rowing. Sarah feels incredibly fortunate to be able to call her passion her career and enjoys learning alongside her athletes daily as they rise to new challenges. Sarah started her coaching career after an eight-year rowing career at St. Louis Rowing Club and Indiana University, Bloomington. She has coached juniors, collegiate, and masters programs across the country, including the National Cathedral School, Saratoga Rowing Association, University of Southern California, North Park University, Washington University in St. Louis, SLRC, Artemis Rowing, and Indiana University. Her international coaching experience includes time working with the Nicaraguan National Team in Nicaragua prior to the 2017 Central American Games. Sarah’s most recent coaching has led crews to medals and grand final participation at Youth Nationals, SRAAs, Stotesbury Cup, and qualified a U19 Men’s 2x to compete in the 2019 Junior World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. She was also the Lead Coach for USRowing’s Women’s ODP High Performance camp in the summer of 2021.

Eric Gehrke

Eric Gehrke

Program Manager & Varsity Men's Head Coach

Eric Gehrke

Program Manager & Varsity Men's Head Coach

Eric Gehrke is the Program Manager and Men’s Head Coach for OKC Riversport Juniors Rowing. Eric has always tried to challenge himself to create speed at the highest level he could – with coaching stops at Gonzaga College High School, Nashville Rowing, University of Southern California, Saratoga Rowing Association, and George Washington University. His boats have made Youth Nationals grand finals in four different boat classes across sweep and sculling, won Stotesbury and SRAA medals, as well as qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Eric also has coached for USRowing since 2010 at many different levels, and this past summer (2021) coached the Men’s 8+ to a gold medal finish at Junior World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as well as being the lead coach for the entire Men’s Junior National Team.

Sierra Cydrus

Sierra Cydrus

Assistant Varsity Coach

Sierra Cydrus

Assistant Varsity Coach

Sierra Cydrus is a native of Chillicothe, Ohio and started her rowing career at The Ohio State University in the fall of 2015 as a walk-on. In 2019 Sierra earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Exercise Science. She then served as the team’s Graduate Assistant Coach from 2019-2021 while working towards her masters in Sports Coaching.

As a student-athlete at Ohio State from 2015-19 she was part of three Big Ten Championship teams and was a top five finisher at the NCAA Rowing Championships. In 2018 she earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, a Big Ten gold medal, and the Buckeye Power Club Award. Additionally, she was a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection, a four-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete, and served as a team captain.Sierra also represented the Columbus Development Camp, winning gold at the US Rowing National Championships.

Mary Anderson

Mary Anderson

Women's Novice Coach

Mary Anderson

Women's Novice Coach

Matt Guitierrez

Matt Guitierrez

Men's Novice Coach

Matt Guitierrez

Men's Novice Coach

Hilton Park

Hilton Park

Assistant Varsity Men's Coach

Hilton Park

Assistant Varsity Men's Coach

Coach Hilton Park started coaching the OKC junior team in spring 2021. Hilton rowed for the Junior program in 2012 through 2017. He is currently training at the OKC High Performance Center. His goal is to be on the U.S. national team.  Hilton is coaching because he loves to teach young athletes and share some of his own experience as an athlete. He is excited to help athletes reach any goal they have for their day and career.

Brooke Ruszkiewicz

Brooke Ruszkiewicz

Middle School & Asst. Varsity Coach

Brooke Ruszkiewicz

Middle School & Asst. Varsity Coach

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Brooke Ruszkiewicz recently moved to OKC to train with the High Performance Team. Finishing her youth rowing career this June, she’s recorded a 1st and 2nd place finish at Midwest regionals, a 4th and 10th place finish at Youth Nationals in the 2- and 4x respectively, and was crowned the national champion in the U23 LTWT 1x.  This past spring, she received the 2021 CRRC Steve Schaefer Award that recognizes resounding work ethic and also graduated high school with high academic honors. Brooke has been involved with coaching since age 15 when she first started coaching hockey and leading power skating lessons. With the transition to rowing, she moved from coaching hockey to volunteering and coaching learn-to-row camps at her original juniors program. Her goals for this next year include training for U23 world championships, preparing for a pre-med undergraduate experience, and inspiring young girls within the sport of rowing.