2 Varsity 4+ Places Third, 1 Varsity 8+ Finishes Fourth in Final Day at the Lake Wheeler Invite

Friday, April 25

Raleigh, N.C.

University of Kansas

Lake Wheeler Invite

2 Varsity 4+ Places Third, 1 Varsity 8+ Finishes Fourth in Final Day at the Lake Wheeler Invite

4/26/2025 2:00:00 PM | Women's Rowing

Results Results (PDF)

RALEIGH, N.C. – In final round action at the Lake Wheeler Invite, the Kansas' 2 Varsity 4+ boat secured third place and the 1 Varsity 8+ came in fourth to highlight the Jayhawks outing Saturday morning in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"Since our last regatta and throughout this weekend of racing we took the opportunity to look at some different lineups and combinations in the path to finding more speed as a team," head coach Carrie Cook-Callen said. "The process was challenging, but should pay off as we approach our final regular season race."

With a podium finish, the 2 Varsity 4+ posted a time of 7:40.575 for KU's best finish of the weekend. Leading the Jayhawks to a bronze medal was Kyra Kavouridis in the coxswain seat with Emerson Linthicum in the one seat, followed by Taylor Lindberg in the two, Isabel Smikahl in the three and Jacie Goff rounding out in the four. The KU crew edged out Tulsa, Navy and Boston College for third, finishing behind North Carolina and Georgetown.

Also adding a strong finish on Saturday morning was the 1 Varsity 8+ battling to fourth place over Georgetown and Boston, with both crews trailing three seconds behind. Audrey Owens, Emma Wistuba, Gracie Shepherd, Tammy Keller, Karly Larson, Alessandra Vedder, Amber Cayci, Aylin Schafer and Laura Teska teamed together for a time of 6:39.789 in the race.

The 2 Varsity 8+ notched a pair of fifth-place finishes in the first and third rounds. In Friday morning action, the 2 Varsity 8+ finished with a time of 6:53.408 to squeeze past Navy, who was less than two seconds behind. The crew consisted of Sarah Sutton, Anastasiia Draha, Lindsey True, Sophie Pense, Rory Brennan, Teska, Schafer, Keller and Sofia D'Ascenzo.

Despite a shift in lineups, the 2 Varsity 8+ collected its other fifth-place finish on Saturday behind Sutton, Draha, True, Pense, Brennan, D'Ascenzo, Ava Black, Abigail Steffen and Kara Lyons time of 6:49.530 to surpass Navy again, but this time at margin of 13 seconds.

All five competing Kansas boats raced in the second heat for all three rounds.

With just a few hours in between rounds on Friday, the 3 Varsity 8+ made a 15-second jump from its initial time as Olivia Schroder, Emma Olney, Riley Shoots, Grace Morenz, Andi Dyer, Izzy Smikahl, Morgan Tenpenny, Kaylie Hellner and Gretchen Schmierer Knust crossed the finish line at 7:01.580.

The 2 Varsity 4+ and 1 Varsity 8+ all finished sixth in their respective rounds and races on the first day of the invite. The 3 Varsity 8+ placed fourth and the 1 Varsity 4+ finished sixth in all three of its races.

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