Oklahoma City University opens its rowing season Saturday, Oct. 3, with 857 entries from 50 clubs converging on the Boathouse District for the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta.

The race on the Oklahoma River draws competitors from 11 states and Mexico. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and continues through Sunday, Oct. 4, according to OCU Athletics.

Fifteen current Stars will race on their Boathouse District home water. OCU alum Ruthie Lacy returns to pair with current rower Lucy Oney in the Women's Open 2x. OCU Athletics described the duo as medalists at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championships, though the year and medal type were not specified.

Head coach Bryan Volpenhein, who oversees both the men's and women's squads, outlined his priorities in OCU's Sept. 24 season preview.

"The main goal on the men's side is to build off some good results from last year and improve our performance in the Men's 4," Volpenhein said in that preview.

Volpenhein said the women's program will shift toward fewer events with sharper execution after a demanding spring schedule. He pointed to potential in the lightweight women's double scull.

The Stars' Saturday lineup opens with Talon Denton in the Men's Open 1x at 8:30 a.m. Oney, Michelle Guzman, Amelia Castor and Alexis Fredrickson follow five minutes later in the Women's Open 1x. An eight-person men's collegiate crew featuring Andres Parraga, Nick Burks, Ayden Ressler, Pavle Glisic, Vojin Kovacevic, Steven Gwartney, Trent Pfannenstiel and Ilija Panic hits the water at 8:45 a.m.

Pfannenstiel, a newcomer, has drawn early praise from Volpenhein. The coach said in the season preview that Pfannenstiel had "shown some great potential and fit right in with the team."

The afternoon slate at 2:35 p.m. features three OCU entries in the Men's Collegiate 2-. Grand finals later Saturday feature Guzman in the Women's Open 1x 500m and a men's Open/Collegiate 8+ 500m crew of Parraga, Burks, Ressler, Glisic, Kovacevic, Gwartney, Pfannenstiel, Ethan Romburgh and Panic. On Sunday, OCU fields two Mixed Masters 2x boats, including Lacy paired with Glisic.

Eleven college programs join OCU on the course: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Central Oklahoma, Baylor, Colorado State, Kansas State, Texas A&M, TCU, Colorado, Wichita State and Xavier (La.).

After the home opener, OCU heads to Boston for the Head of the Charles Regatta. The spring goal is to qualify for the IRA National Championship.