Completed Event: Women's Rowing at Head of the Charles on October 18, 2025
Final
Women's Rowing
at Head of the Charles
Photo by: Arun Halder/Kansas Athletics
Kansas 1 Varsity 8+ Named Big 12 Boat of the Week
5/7/2025 3:00:00 PM | Women's Rowing
IRVING, Texas – The Kansas 1 Varsity 8+ has been selected as the Big 12 Boat of the Week, the conference announced Wednesday. The boat was a leader in helping the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Wyandotte County Lake on Saturday.
"The Jayhawks earned the lead very early in the race by coming off the line with powerful, clean strokes," said head coach Carrie Cook-Callen. "They lead the race wire-to-wire to secure the win."
The group consisted of coxswain Audrey Owens, Amber Cayci, Karly Larson, Laura Teska, Tammy Keller and Emma Wistuba as well as juniors Aylin Schafer and Kara Lyons along with sophomore Gracie Shepherd. The team pulled together for a time of 6:23.621, beating the trailing Wildcat boat by over two seconds. Six of the squad's competitors were seniors who were then recognized after the regatta in senior day celebrations.
Teska was named the Big 12 Rowing Scholar Athlete of the Year last season and Shepherd was named to the For Stars Network Preseason Athlete Watchlist for Women Rowers and Coxswains on Feb. 12, 2025.
Kansas held an early lead and battled for all 2,000-meters, fighting off several Kansas State attempts to flip the advantage. A strong performance throughout the entire duration of the race gave the Jayhawks a slight edge over Kansas State, while Creighton followed 15 seconds later.
Three KU crews posted wins in consecutive races en route to a 17-5 victory. Kansas scored nine points for its win in the 1 Varsity 8+ and six for claiming first in the 2 Varsity 8+. The Jayhawks also got two points for winning the 2 Varsity 4+. The Dillons Sunflower Showdown trophy remained with the Jayhawks for the second straight season.
This marks the first time a Kansas crew has won Big 12 Boat of the Week honors since May 8, 2024, and the first time in consecutive seasons since 2019-2021.
Kansas returns to action at the Big 12 Championships held on May 18 in Sarasota, Florida, for its chance to receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
"The Jayhawks earned the lead very early in the race by coming off the line with powerful, clean strokes," said head coach Carrie Cook-Callen. "They lead the race wire-to-wire to secure the win."
The group consisted of coxswain Audrey Owens, Amber Cayci, Karly Larson, Laura Teska, Tammy Keller and Emma Wistuba as well as juniors Aylin Schafer and Kara Lyons along with sophomore Gracie Shepherd. The team pulled together for a time of 6:23.621, beating the trailing Wildcat boat by over two seconds. Six of the squad's competitors were seniors who were then recognized after the regatta in senior day celebrations.
Teska was named the Big 12 Rowing Scholar Athlete of the Year last season and Shepherd was named to the For Stars Network Preseason Athlete Watchlist for Women Rowers and Coxswains on Feb. 12, 2025.
Kansas held an early lead and battled for all 2,000-meters, fighting off several Kansas State attempts to flip the advantage. A strong performance throughout the entire duration of the race gave the Jayhawks a slight edge over Kansas State, while Creighton followed 15 seconds later.
Three KU crews posted wins in consecutive races en route to a 17-5 victory. Kansas scored nine points for its win in the 1 Varsity 8+ and six for claiming first in the 2 Varsity 8+. The Jayhawks also got two points for winning the 2 Varsity 4+. The Dillons Sunflower Showdown trophy remained with the Jayhawks for the second straight season.
This marks the first time a Kansas crew has won Big 12 Boat of the Week honors since May 8, 2024, and the first time in consecutive seasons since 2019-2021.
Kansas returns to action at the Big 12 Championships held on May 18 in Sarasota, Florida, for its chance to receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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