Safe to say the still-flegling rowing program at Laurentian University is beginning to make a name for itself.

Competing at the 2011 OUA Championships in St Catherines, the L.U. performance was highlighted by a gold medal courtesy of Carling Zeeman in the women's heavyweight singles category.

The Cambridge native covered the course in a time of 7:25.67, more than 11 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. This victory comes on the heels of an extremely successful summer of rowing for Zeeman, who has quickly risen up the provincial and national ranks in the sport.

The Laurentian men’s heavyweight doubles team of Dylan Wing and Bradley Cutler finished 4th, missing out on a podium placement by less than three seconds.

Given the early success of the program, little surprise that coach Amanda Schweinbenz has been recognized as well, named as the OUA Women’s Coach of the Year at the regatta.

The L.U. crew now prepares for the Canadian University Rowing Championships next weekend in Welland as the OUA team champion University of Western Ontario Mustangs play host to nationals.