Jayhawks Win First Varsity Four, Finish Tied for Third at Big 12 Championship

April 28, 2012

Big 12 Championship Results

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – After bringing home a gold from the Knecht Cup, the Kansas Rowing First Varsity Four followed that with a win at the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, as Kansas finished tied for third with Kansas State.

Texas won its fourth-straight Big 12 Rowing Championship by just one point over Oklahoma, 105-104. Kansas and in-state rival Kansas State tied for third place with 64 points each.

The First Varsity Four boat of seniors Paige Stephens, Kathryn Schoonover and coxswain Lindsey Bricklemyer and juniors Emily Starr and Ashleigh Allam won with a time of 7:43.69 to earn 17 points.

Kansas captured its first race crown in league history as the Jayhawks won the Varsity Four race in convincing fashion with a victory of nearly 10 seconds.

The Jayhawks would finish the day of competition with three third-place finishes and two fourth-place finishes.

Texas won the Fourth Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Four and Second Varsity Eight, while Oklahoma won the Third Varsity Eight and the final race of the day, First Varsity Eight.

The 2012 All-Big 12 Teams were also announced, with nine student-athletes selected to each squad. The Big 12 Rower, Newcomer and Coach of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, May 2.

Junior Olivia Kinet was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team, while senior Melanie Luthi earned second team honors.

Kansas now will travel to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Conference USA Championship on May 12.