Jayhawks Travel to North Carolina for Lake Wheeler Invite

Friday, April 24

Raleigh, N.C.

9 a.m. CT

University of Kansas

Lake Wheeler Invite

Jayhawks Travel to North Carolina for Lake Wheeler Invite

4/23/2026 2:14:00 PM | Women's Rowing

RALEIGH, N.C. - Kansas rowing is set to take on a highly competitive field featuring multiple top 25 teams in the all-day, Lake Wheeler Invite in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 24-25.

"Duke and UNC do a great job putting on a first-rate event and it creates an opportunity for us to show the progress we are making at practice against a field of great competition," Kansas rowing coach Andrew Derrick said. "I think our team is ready to seize this opportunity and I'm excited to see them make a step forward."

This season marks the fifth-straight year that the Jayhawks have competed in Lake Wheeler Invite, where they will face 19 other Division 1 programs, including No. 9 Virginia, No. 13 Duke, No. 14 Miami, No. 15 Alabama, No. 22 North Carolina, and No. 25 Oklahoma.

Kansas will send five boats out on the water this weekend, beginning with the III Eight team comprised of coxswain and freshmen Samantha Ronen, Ashley Herbert, Suyin Howard, Naida Paschal, seniors Lauren Burright and Catherine Bachovchin, sophomores Morgan Tenpenny, Audrey Crowson, with junior Andronika Dyer taking off from the dock at approximately 9:30 a.m. CT on Friday.

The II Four boat will consist of junior coxswain Kayley Chism, seniors Rory Brennan and Abigail Steffen, sophomore Isabel Smikahl, and freshman Hollis Andreen hitting the water at 10 a.m. CT.

Freshman coxswain Megan Engerman, Izzy Rossato, sophomores Emerson Linthicum and Grace Bailey, along with junior Sofia D'Ascenzo will compete as the I Four boat at 10:30 a.m. CT.

Launching at 11 a.m. CT, sophomore coxswain Kyra Kavouridis, freshman Kenzington Rector, juniors Tya Drennen, Gretchen Schmeirer-Knust, with Alex and Eva Robinson, as well as seniors Anastasiia Draha, Martina Zbiralova, and Kathryn Borthwick will make up the II Eight crew.

Finally, the I Eight boat will have junior coxswain Ruby Moritz-Cammack, freshmen Katariina Peipman and Claire Van Mater, sophomore Kaylie Hellner, juniors Sophie Pense and Gracie Shepherd, along with seniors Kara Lyons, Lindsey True, and Aylin Schafer racing at 11:30 a.m. CT.

The Jayhawks are coming off a sweep against Kansas State at the 2026 Dillons Sunflower Showdown, outscoring the Wildcats 22-0 to secure the trophy for the third year in a row.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live streams for each individual session can be accessed below.

Session one (Friday, 9:30 a.m. CT)

Session two (Friday, 2 p.m. CT)

Session three (Saturday, 2 p.m. CT)

Live results for the event can also be accessed here.