Kansas Takes First Two Races, But Falls Short in Kansas Cup on Senior Day
April 23, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Kan. –
Kansas won the First Novice Eight and First Varsity Four Races to jump out to an early 6-0 lead on Senior Day at Wyandotte County Lake, but Kansas State took both Varsity Eight races to ultimately claim the Kansas Cup, 13-6, Saturday morning. The all-time series, which began in 1998, is now tied as each school has hoisted the Kansas Cup seven times.
“I think we were really strong in our freshman races and our varsity four, but obviously we weren’t strong enough in our two varsity eight races,” said Kansas head rowing coach Rob Catloth. “That’s where we have to keep improving.”
The Kansas Cup also marked Senior Day for 13 rowers. Following the regatta, Allison Able, Kristen Allison, Karlie Brown, Melissa Hersh, Elise Langtry, Meaghan Oven, Rachelle Pauly, Lauren Pollmiller, Caitlin Roach, Kellie Roy, Jessica Sadler, Nicole Schneider and Cassie Sparks were all honored in a special recognition ceremony.
“We have a really good senior class,” said Catloth. “Several of them have been in top boats since their sophomore year. There are some really strong athletes there, and also student-wise, we’ve had several on academic all-conference teams. It’s been a really fun class to work with.”
Kansas won the first race in exciting fashion, clipping Kansas State at the line by less than a second to claim three points with the First Novice Eight victory. Coxswain Caty Clements led the group of Hillary Woods, Emily Starr, Emma Umbarger, Jessica Miller, Elizabeth Scherer, Katie Hayes, Amanda Lewis and Hannah Singhal as Kansas crossed the line with a time of 7:00.2, while Kansas State was just behind at 7:01.0.
Kansas won its second-consecutive race when the Varsity Four defeated the Wildcats by nine seconds with a time of 7:38.4. Seniors Melissa Hersh and Caitlin Roach along with sophomores Ashleigh Allam and Cheyenne Verdoorn comprised the four rowers, while junior Lindsey Bricklemyer was the coxswain.
Kansas State would come back to claim the next two races, beginning with the Second Varsity Eight, which the Wildcats won with a time of 6:55.2 compared to 7:00.5 by Kansas. The Jayhawks led the regatta, 6-5, after that race, meaning the First Varsity Eight race worth eight points would determine the victor of the Kansas Cup. Kansas State completed the race in a time of 6:42.7, while the Jayhawks came in with a time of 6:53.8.
Kansas will host the Big 12 Rowing Championship next Saturday, April 30, at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan. Texas has won the Big 12 title each of the first two years of the Championship. Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma will all be competing to knock off the two-time defending champions. The regatta will begin with the Second Novice Eight race at 10 a.m., and conclude with the First Varsity Eight at 11:20 a.m.
“We’re excited about the Big 12 Rowing Championship,” said Catloth. “This will be the third year of the event. Every year the level of racing at the regatta gets better and the competition gets tougher. We’re really excited to be hosting it at Wyandotte County Lake this year. I think it’s going to be a great regatta with some high-quality competition.”
