USRowing National High Performance Center Athlete Bios

Kevin Cardno Huntsville, AL	University of Alabama, Huntsville ’17. Kevin came to OKC right after his college 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.
Katie Gibbons Olympia, WA	University of Denver ’16. Katie was introduced to sweep rowing 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.
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.
Hilton Park Edmond, OK	University of Oklahoma ’21. Hilton is an up-and-coming Oklahoman 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. John started rowing his freshmen year of high school and gradually came to love the sport with every competition. He would continue to compete throughout high school and eventually place 6th in the Men’s 1x in the USRowing Youth National Championships his senior year. He then trained in OKC for a few months before rowing for Florida Tech for a year. He eventually came back and train at the OKC High Performance Center while pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering from OU. John wants to find out how far he can go in the sport and compete in the Olympics, and looks forward to the road ahead.