Kansas Heads to Clemson to Dual with the Tigers

March 22, 2012

KU vs. Clemson Lake Hartwell // Clemson, S.C.

The novice eight boats have won eight races through the first two regattas to begin the spring season. First Varsity Eight (9 a.m.) Lane 3 Kansas Lane 4 Clemson Second Varsity Eight (9:20 a.m.) Lane 3 Clemson Lane 4 Kansas Varsity Four (9:40 a.m.) Lane 1 Clemson 2V4 Lane 2 Kansas 2V4 Lane 3 Clemson 1V4 Lane 4 Kansas 1V4 Lane 5 Clemson 3V4 Lane 6 Clemson N4 Novice Eight (10 a.m.) Lane 2 Clemson 2N8 Lane 3 Kansas 1N8 Lane 4 Clemson 1N8 Lane 5 Kansas 2N8

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Coming off the toughest regatta of the spring season, the University of Kansas rowing team looks to take on another top 20 team in a dual with the Clemson Tigers, Saturday, March 24. The first race is slated to start at 9 a.m.

The Jayhawks came away from the Louisville Invite last weekend with three wins, two of which came from the novice eight squad. The novice eight boats picked up wins versus Buffalo, Notre Dame and Tennessee, while the lone varsity win came in the varsity four as they knocked off Alabama and Louisville.

Kansas head coach Rob Catloth continues to be excited about the continued growth of the novice squad.

“I think our young kids are rowing really well and improving,” Catloth said. “They are doing exactly what we need them to do. To grow the program we need our freshmen to be able to compete with other fast freshmen and novice around the country.”

KU should be well prepared for the dual as the Jayhawks were able to spend the entire week in Clemson going through spring training. The week is full of two-a-day practices to get the Jayhawks ready for the home stretch of the season.

“I think when you are doing two-a-days you almost gain a month’s worth of improvement at home in that one week,” the 17-year head coach said. “We’re just going to eat, sleep and row. Going into spring training with already seven or eight races under our belt is really going to help us.”

The dual versus Clemson should prove to be the team’s final tune-up before the Jayhawks get into Big 12 and Conference USA action.

KU will have a week off following Clemson to prepare for the Kansas Cup showdown with in-state rival Kansas State on April 7. The regatta with Kansas State will be the lone home meet for KU in 2012 at Wyandotte County Lake.