2010 Season Recap
June 14, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan.—Kansas rowing wrapped up the 2010 season on May 16, placing seventh at the inaugural Conference USA Championship and 18th overall in the South-Central Regional in Oak Ridge, Tenn., but the Jayhawks had their best finish a month earlier at the Kansas Cup.
Kansas started the 2010 season two weeks earlier than any other season in the team’s history at the University of Oklahoma Invite in Oklahoma City, Okla., with KU taking third place behind San Diego and host Oklahoma. The Jayhawks used the weekend as a foundation to build off of throughout the season.
“Usually our third or fourth races are in the third or fourth week of April,” said head coach Rob Catloth. “The races at the Oklahoma Invite helped us know what to work on as we headed into the spring.”
Following spring training, the Jayhawks traveled to Austin, Texas for a dual with Texas. Kansas won the Second Varsity Four over the Longhorns, but was unable to keep up with Texas in the other races as the team looked to keep improving for future races.
Kansas quickly used its early season momentum to snag a victory over Kansas State in the Kansas Cup at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan., on April 3. The lone home regatta for the Jayhawks, the Kansas Cup also served as senior day and KU nearly swept the rival Wildcats, winning every race but the First Varsity Eight en route to a 12-8 victory.
“That win was great for the program and the women on the team,” said Catloth. “We’ve been trying to build up. We moved into the new boathouse last year and we’re making a strong push to raise the competition level of our team.”
The Jayhawks faced Bucknell, Old Dominion and Rhode Island in a series of duals on April 10-11 in Lewisberry, Pa., the weekend after the Kansa Cup. The team saw improvements from the earlier in the season, but had mixed success at the event.
Kansas notched victories over Old Dominion in the Second Varsity Eight and Bucknell and Rhode Island in the Varsity Four on the first day of racing. Unfortunately, KU was unable to surpass the Bison in four races on the final day.
Kansas next traveled to St. Paul, Minn., to face the Golden Gophers of Minnesota on April 24. KU struggled against the traditional rowing powerhouse, but won the First Novice Eight, a victory Catloth attributed to the strong recruiting class from the first year with the University of Kansas Rowing Boathouse.
After the dual with Minnesota, Kansas competed in the second Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla., on May 1. The Jayhawks were in second place going into the First Varsity Eight, but finished last in that race to allow Oklahoma, who finished second in the Varsity Eight race, to seal the second place finish in the final standings.
The Jayhawks had two weeks to prepare for the South-Central Regional and the inaugural Conference USA Championship following the Big 12 Championship. Prior to the regatta, seniors Stacy Rachow and Katie Beall, along with junior Nicole Schneider were named to the first Conference USA Academic All-Conference Rowing Team.
At the regatta Kansas finished seventh in the Conference USA Championship and 19th overall in the South-Central Regional in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Jayhawks finished second in the Open Four and first in the Novice Eight C final.
Senior Lindsey Lawrence was named to the Conference USA All-Conference team following the competition.
Prior to the season-ending regatta, nine graduating seniors were honored and eight awards were handed out during the University of Kansas rowing year-end banquet held May 9. During the presentation, KU bid farewell to graduating seniors Katie Beall, Brittany Belford, Brittany Francis, Abby Green, Kelly Miller, Lindsey Lawrence, Stacy Rachow, Erin Sargent and Kaitlin Squier. Beall, Green, Lawrence, Rachow and Sargent also received the senior academic award.
Several other team awards were also handed out during the banquet including most improved oarswoman, which was presented to junior Allison Able. Freshman Kourtney Welch earned most improved newcomer.
