The OU women’s rowing team will look to build its program as it goes into its second season, beginning with the OU Invitational this weekend.

The Sooners are led by senior Chelsea Moore, junior Meagan Harrell and sophomore Lauren Price, all of whom competed with the Varsity Four last season.

The team also will be joined by a host of freshmen — 28 in all — some of whom placed highly in national competitions.

OU will have a handful of meets to compete in as they prepare themselves for the Big 12 Championship in May.

Over the next month, head coach Leeanne Crain will be able to see how her Sooners handle the pressures of the season, and test out different lineups as they will have three meets back-to-back-to-back, in which they will race at least 10 times.

The Sooners will then turn right around the first weekend in April and compete in a head-to-head duel with Alabama and Old Dominion.

Oklahoma will finally take a week off to rest before competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, which will further prepare the team for the second annual Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.

Last season, the Sooners finished strong with two first-place finishes and a second-place finish in the conference championship, while Varsity Four and First Novice Eight finished fifth and sixth place respectively at the NCAA South/Central Regionals.