Kansas looking forward to 2019 season after first scrimmage

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas rowing was finally able to hit the water with its first scrimmage of 2019 as the Jayhawks faced Tulsa on the Verdigris River in Catoosa, Oklahoma this past weekend.
 
The annual scrimmage versus the Golden Hurricane not only provided the first competition environment of the spring, but was also the first time on the water for the Jayhawks.
 
“Throughout both scrimmage sessions you could see the rowers getting more comfortable in the boats after not being on the water for six weeks,” head coach Carrie Cook-Callen said.
 
With the winter weather lasting longer than usual, KU hasn’t been able to get out on the water since its winter training trip to Tampa, Florida back in January. However, that hasn’t stopped Kansas from working just as hard inside the boathouse throughout the cold winter months.
 
“The team has trained really hard and made some solid improvements in our January and February training,” Cook-Callen said. “It was good to see that begin to transfer to the water in our scrimmage with Tulsa.”
 
Although official times weren’t reported during the scrimmage, the Jayhawks didn’t let the opportunity pass them by in getting better and competing against a very talented Tulsa team.
 
“We are continually appreciative to our friends at Tulsa rowing for hosting us and creating an environment for both teams to get better,” Cook-Callen said. “We look forward to seeing them in Sarasota, Florida in a few weeks on the race course.”
 
Kansas still has three weeks before its first spring regatta when the Jayhawks head to the east coast for the Cooper Sprints on Sunday, March 24, in Cooper Park, New Jersey. KU will compete against Big 12 foes Oklahoma and West Virginia, among other schools from around the country.
 
“It’s easy to see part of what we need is just more water time to adequately prepare for our spring racing schedule,” Cook-Callen said. “We look forward to our upcoming spring break to provide some additional training time before we race in the Cooper Sprints.”
 
The Jayhawks have a busy April with the Sunshine State Invite April 5-6 in Sarasota, Florida, where Kansas will see Tulsa again and face in-state rival, Kansas State, along with others. In its second trip of the month, Kansas will compete at the George Mason Invite on Sunday, April 14. KU has helped lead the Big 12 Conference to victory over the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association the last two years.
 
Kansas will return home for the annual Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday, May 4, at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kansas and the Jayhawks look to bring the Kansas Cup back to Lawrence.
 
For the fifth-consecutive year, Oak Ridge, Tennessee will play host to the Big 12 Championship May 18-19, where the Jayhawks will look to finish the season strong.
  
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