Oklahoma City is being designated as the site for a new USRowing National High Performance Center according to Glenn Merry, executive director of USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the U.S. USRowing is partnering with the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation and Oklahoma City University to launch the new center on the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City. "The High Performance Center is an emerging concept for USRowing, and this will be the first of its kind in the country," Merry said. "We will focus on training the next generation of world-class rowers with an emphasis on the Under-23 athlete pool. We also see a future where Oklahoma City serves as the national center for coaching education for USRowing." The High Performance Center will begin operations in November at the Chesapeake Boathouse and will eventually be headquartered in the new Devon Boathouse, future home of OCU rowing, scheduled to open in May, 2010. High Performance Center programming will be incorporated throughout all of the new boathouses slated for construction on the Oklahoma River. Matt Imes, director of high performance for USRowing, will coordinate development of the new High Performance Center initiative. "We plan to launch the High Performance Center in November with an identification camp in Oklahoma City," Imes said. The USRowing High Performance Center will include a year-round residency program for male and female "Under 23" athletes. As part of the program, OCU will provide housing for the athletes and scholarships for those wanting to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree while pursuing their Olympic aspirations. The program will also be working with the Oklahoma City business community to provide job and internship opportunities for the athletes, and the Chesapeake Boathouse will have coaching positions available. The Under-23 program is expected to begin with 8-12 athletes in residence by August, 2009, with projected growth to more than 20 athletes over the next two years. The High Performance Center will incorporate all aspects of elite athlete training with intensive coaching, sports nutrition, strength and cardiovascular conditioning, sports psychology and sports medicine, including sport-specific biometrics, injury prevention and rehabilitation. In addition to the Under-23 program, the High Performance Center will host senior and junior national team selection camps, elite training camps and training opportunities for international athletes. "The facilities already in place at the Chesapeake Boathouse, along with the great 2,000-meter course on the Oklahoma River, make this an ideal location for us to move ahead," Imes said, "and it only gets better as the other boathouses come online. The Devon Boathouse will offer the core facilities we need to expand our programming to its maximum potential. It's one of the reasons we chose Oklahoma City." "We are excited to be in a position to help bring the High Performance Center to Oklahoma City," said OCU President Tom McDaniel. "Devon's investment in the OCU boathouse has proven to be an investment in the future of our city." The Devon Boathouse will be a $10 million facility that includes more than 40,000 square feet of training, educational and boat storage space. Features of the new boathouse include extensive strength and cardiovascular conditioning facilities, an indoor rowing tank, indoor endless pool, classroom and administrative space, as well as boat storage for more than 100 rowing shells. The University of Central Oklahoma boathouse will provide additional classroom and educational facilities for the High Performance Center and will be the site for Paralympic training. Plans for both the UCO boathouse and a University of Oklahoma boathouse are still under development. The boathouses are being built as part of a master plan development, which includes the three new boathouses, a finish line tower, permanent lighting and grandstands on the Oklahoma River. "Development of the river and initiatives such as the High Performance Center are a direct result of Oklahoma City's business and civic community coming together to provide support," explained Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. "Specifically, Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and OG&E are providing funding for the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation as we work with USRowing in bringing the High Performance Center here." Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation has an ongoing fundraising initiative to provide financial support for long-range planning and development of the master plan along the Oklahoma River. "USRowing's commitment to bringing this new High Performance Center to Oklahoma City opens the door to many opportunities," said Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. "Having these energetic and accomplished young athletes will add a new dimension to our city." "We can see these Under-23 athletes not just training here but also working with our Youth Outreach students from schools across the metro and getting involved with the community. It will bring a whole new level of excitement to the Oklahoma River."