Kansas Rowing Outpaces Kansas State to Win Back-to-Back Dillons Sunflower Showdowns

Saturday, May 3

Kansas City, Kan.

University of Kansas

Kansas State

Kansas Rowing Outpaces Kansas State to Win Back-to-Back Dillons Sunflower Showdowns

5/3/2025 2:30:00 PM | Women's Rowing

Results Results (PDF)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Dillons Sunflower Showdown trophy remains with the Kansas women's rowing team for the second straight year after the Jayhawks posted a 17-5 win over Kansas State on Saturday morning at Wyandotte County Lake.

Kansas took three out of the five races as the 1 Varsity 8+, 2 Varsity 8+ and 2 Varsity 4+ KU boats all contributed wins in the victory.

"It's always great when you are in a race and get your bow-ball out ahead and have that winning feeling," said Kansas head coach Carrie Cook Callen. "We're grateful for the wins we captured today and look towards taking forward steps in our execution on May 18th at the Big 12 Championship."

The Jayhawks had a robust start to the regatta, nabbing a pair of wins in the first two races for an early lead.

The crew of Kayley Chism, Grace Bailey, Carmen Arkin, Taylor Lindberg and Catherine Bachovchin pulled together a time of 7:24.877 in the 2 Varsity 4+ to open the regatta. The group topped the trailing Kansas State boat by seven seconds and the Creighton crew by 21 seconds.

Collecting nine points in the highest-scoring race of the day was Audrey Owens, Emma Wistuba, Gracie Shepherd, Tammy Keller, Karly Larson, Kara Lyons, Amber Cayci, Aylin Schafer and Laura Teska securing the 1 Varsity 8+ victory in 6:23.621. The crew fended off the nearby Wildcat boat by nearly three seconds as the Bluejays came in third 15 seconds later.

In the final three races of the day, Kansas faced off against three tough Kansas State boats that have all been named a Big 12 Boat of the Week this season.

The Jayhawks earned its third win to secure the Dillons Sunflower Showdown trophy as the 2 Varsity 8+ crew posted a time of 6:39.041 for a five-second open water win over second place Kansas State. The group of Sarah Sutton, Ava Black, Anastasiia Draha, Lindsey True, Sophie Pense, Alessandra Vedder, Rory Brennan, Sofia D'Ascenzo and Katia Ustiuzhanina prevailed in the victory to earn six points for KU.

In the final fours race of the day, the crew of Kyra Kavouridis, Abigail Steffen, Izzy Smikahl, Emerson Linthicum and Jacie Goff came up short in second place at 7:31.084 as Kansas State found its first win of the day.

Rounding out the action was the 3 Varsity 8+ in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown finale. It was a neck-and-neck battle filled with lead changes between the Jayhawks and Wildcats throughout the entire 2,000 meters, but it was Kansas State who edged out KU by 0.27 in a photo finish.

Following the conclusion of racing, Kansas was awarded the Dillons Sunflower Showdown trophy for the second consecutive season after its victory last year.

The 15 Jayhawk senior rowers were also recognized for their contributions to the program. Those honored included Ava Black, Amber Cayci, Rylee Crowell, Jacie Goff, Tammy Keller, Karly Larson, Melia Martin, Emma Olney, Audrey Owens, Olivia Schroeder, Riley Shoots, Sarah Sutton, Laura Teska, Alessandra Vedder and Emma Wistuba.

"Today being senior day is always a special day," added Cook-Callen. "We have a large group that have made a great impact on this team. So it's fun to watch them in this but also bittersweet knowing that their time is about ready to transition from being on the athlete side to alumni and fan side. They'll be a part of the family forever and we're super grateful for the opportunity to celebrate them."

Dillons Sunflower Showdown Scoring
1V8 – Kansas 9
2V8 – Kansas 6
1V4 – Kansas State 3
2V4 – Kansas 2
3V8 – Kansas State 2

Final Score: Kansas 17, Kansas State 5

Up Next
The Jayhawks prepare for postseason competition at the Big 12 Championships held in Sarasota, Florida, on May 18.