USRowing National High Performance Center Athlete Bios

Kevin Cardno Huntsville, AL	University of Alabama, Huntsville ’17. Kevin came to OKC in December, right after graduation. At UAH, he was able to balance earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering while having great success on the water. Excelling most in the Men's 1x, Kevin has many first-place finishes under his belt, including at ACRA National Championship Regatta and Head of the Hooch in 2017. He was also able to spend the most recent summer training at the New York Athletic Club, where he continued to add to his collection of medals at the USRowing Club National Championships and competed in the Royal Canadian Henley. Kevin is looking forward to further developing his skills both on and off the water at USRowing National High Performance Center, with hopes of making National and Olympic teams for the United States.
Connor Corwen New Rochelle, NY	Bucknell University ’14. Connor began his rowing career during his freshman year of high school at Fordham Preparatory School in Bronx, NY, where he swam in the fall/winter and rowed in the spring. He went on to row all 4 years for Bucknell University in Lewisburg PA, where he won a gold medal in the Men's Novice 8+ at the 2011 ECAC Championship Regatta and a silver medal in the Men's Varsity 8+" at the 2012 ACRA National Championship Regatta. Connor additionally set the 2k erg record for the Bucknell men's crew team during his senior year in 2014. Upon graduating college, Connor worked full time for 3 years in accounting but continued to train year round for the New York Athletic Club, where he participated in the fall and summer racing programs. He won several medals in 2015 through 2016 at the USRowing Club National Championships and Royal Canadian Henley in the men's Senior 8+ and 4x. Connor joined the USRowing High Performance Center during the fall 2017 with the aspirations of making the US National and Olympic Team within the 2020 quadrennial. While the majority of Connor's rowing experience lies in sweeping, he firmly intends to remain open to making the cut for a US sculling boat and compete at the international level.
Katie Gibbons Olympia, WA	University of Denver ’16. Katie was introduced to sweep rowing about 3 years ago as a 20-year-old junior transfer student. She was quickly hooked, and elected Vice President of the team; a position she held through her senior year. During her 2 years of collegiate rowing, her 4+ took 5th overall at the ACRA National Championship Regatta, she won the “Hammer Award” for the DU women’s team, and took home various medals from a number of indoor erg sprints and regattas. She was able to maintain balance with rowing and academics, which got her name on the ‘16 ACRA All-Academic Team, and she graduated with high honors and distinction in her major. After graduating, her focus shifted toward building a career, though she missed rowing, and began learning to scull during her free time in Texas at TRC. She moved to OKC In the Spring of ‘17, and continued rowing with the Masters. It was then that she realized she wanted to pursue rowing at a higher level, and joined the ‘17 OKCHPC Summer Development Program, where she and her teammates finished 1st in their 4x at the USRowing Club National Championships. After the program ended, she began training full-time, and intends to follow this amazing sport as far as she can take it, with current sights set on competing for the US National Team.
Photo Coming Soon! Katelin Gildersleeve Dallas, TX	Episcopal School of Dallas ’19.
Chris Golze The Woodlands, TX	Baylor University ’17. Chris spent his life playing soccer and basketball before discovering rowing during college. Chris rowed for Baylor University for 3 1/2 years while also pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. During his time with Baylor Crew, Chris placed 1st in both the 2015 Parati Erg Sprint's College Men's Category and in the 2016 Dallas S.W.E.A.T. Erg Sprint's Novice Men's category. He also placed 3rd in the U23 Collegiate Men's category of the 2017 C.R.A.S.H.-B. World Championship Indoor Erg Competition. He also won silver in the Collegiate Men’s Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ at the OKC Regatta Festival in 2017. Chris also set the all-time erg records for 2k, 5k, 6k, and 4*500m relay during his time at Baylor. Upon graduation in December of 2017, Chris began training full-time at the USRowing National High Performance Center. While new to training at the elite level, Chris has high goals set for himself, one of them being to row in the 2020 Olympics.
Carrie Griffin Cape Coral, FL	University of South Florida ’17. Carrie grew up playing basketball, swimming and running track. She joined the rowing team two years ago with the University of South Florida, where she quickly grew to love the sport and became Fundraising Chair for the club. She led her team from stroke seat in the women's 8+ in the Fall season and Spring season. At the Southern Sprints, Carrie finished 1st in Varsity Women's 2k erg event. Her hard work and determination throughout the year earned her the team’s annual Bri-Diesel Award. Later, she joined a local Florida Masters crew and this is when she knew she wanted to be more competitive with the sport. As a member of the USRowing National High Performance Center’s team, Carrie wants to take her passion for rowing to another level. She is ready to push harder and embrace every new opportunity rowing gives her. Her goal is to be in the World Championships and the Olympics someday.
Matt Koehler Amery, WI	University of St. Thomas ’15. Matt graduated from University of St. Thomas with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. He has 4 years of collegiate rowing experience, making finals in the Men’s 2- at the Dad Vail Regatta, and currently holding the record 2k erg time at Saint Thomas. Matt has been sculling since graduation, coached by James Dundon at 612 Endurance in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He finished 9th in the Men’s Club Single at the Head of Charles Regatta in 2015, 1st in the Men's 2x at NWIRA Championship Regatta and 1st in the Men’s 1x at Chicago Sprints in 2017. Matt’s next goal is to compete at the National Selection Regattas in sculling events. He is also looking forward to connecting with the Oklahoma City rowing community.
John Limbaugh Houston, TX	TBD ’20. John has played competitive sports all his life. In the Fall of 2016, after starting school at the University of Texas, John walked onto UT's club rowing team, and fell in love with the sport soon after. John hopes to make an impact on the U.S. National Team in international competition. After only 18 months in the sport, John moved from Austin, Texas and joined us here in OKC, with a passion for racing and hopes of bringing home an Olympic medal.
Hilton Park Edmond, OK	University of Oklahoma ’21. Hilton is an up-and-coming 19 year old Okie who graduated high school at Edmond Memorial in 2017. Hilton was a member of the OKC Riversport Junior program for four years. He says his greatest accomplishment so far is finishing 2nd at the USRowing Youth National Championships in the Men’s 4+ in 2017. HIs goal is not only going to the World Championships and the Olympics, but to also break limits and barriers along the way because he wants to leave his mark in the sport of rowing.
John Puzz Houston, TX	University of Oklahoma ’21.
Steven Pyzik Dearborn Heights, MI	Michigan State University ‘14. Steve walked on to row at Michigan State University where he was a three-year member of the Men’s 1st Varsity 8+, highlighted by a silver medal finish at the 2013 Dad Vail Regatta. Post-graduation in 2014, he rowed for the U23 program at Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia and won at the USRowing Club National Championships. Before coming to Oklahoma City, he trained with Riverside Boat Club in Boston for two years. Steve's goals are to compete in the United States Men's 8+ or 4- and win an Olympic gold medal.