Officials launch nation's first varsity canoe/kayak program

With USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint Nationals taking place Aug. 26-29 in Oklahoma City, we repost this article about the Oklahoma City University's varsity canoe/kayak program, the first of it's kind in the country. The program and Sprint Nationals have a few things in common. They share a city, a river and a coach. Shaun Caven heads up the U.S. Under 23 Canoe/Kayak Team, which will revolve around the OCU program. He also serves as Director of Kayaking at OKC Boathouse.

OCU will make history when it launches the nation's first collegiate varsity canoe/kayak program this year. Shaun Caven, USA Canoe/Kayak sprint national team coach who has coached athletes at the Olympic level in Great Britain, will serve as head coach for the program.

"This first-of-its-kind program will give paddlers the opportunity to continue training while attending college," Caven said. "College-age kayakers have traditionally had to choose either school or training. With OCU's program, athletes will get everything they need to nurture success: education, training facilities and coaching, helping more athletes realize their dreams to study and to train toward representing the nation on the international stage."

The university's canoe/kayak program complements the USA Canoe/Kayak's Under 23 Team which trains at the OKC High Performance Training Center on the Oklahoma River. The center and the OCU program will be housed the Devon Boathouse when it opens this fall. Amenities of the Devon Boathouse include an endless pool, state-of-the-art sports performance technology and a high-altitude training chamber.

"OCU is committed to developing a world-class water sports program to complement the momentum on the Oklahoma River," said President Tom McDaniel. "OCU's reputation for academic excellence enables us to award more than $10 million annually in academic merit scholarships or performance scholarships, providing incoming athletes with a host of scholarship opportunities."

"We have grown our athletic department primarily through the addition of Olympic sports," said Jim Abbott, OCU athletic director. "The canoe/ kayak program fits perfectly in our plans and makes great sense considering the historic growth and development that is occurring on the Oklahoma River.

Caven said he thinks the program has the potential to impact the sport of canoe/kayak in the United States.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for athletes in this country to have and we're so glad it's happening here in Oklahoma City," he said.