Rowing Captures Seven Victories on Senior Day
KANSAS CITY, Kan.- The University of Kansas rowing team competed in the 2014 Sunflower Showdown and claimed seven total victories throughout the day before concluding the afternoon with a special Senior Day sendoff.
SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN
The first official race of the Sunflower Showdown saw the Jayhawks earn a sizable first-place victory (7:07.5) against Kansas State in the Fourth Varsity Eight. Rowing for KU were juniors Kristen Byrd, Jennifer Hartzler, Andrea Joyce, sophomore Breeona Foster, Casey Kelly, freshmen Laura Foster, Danielle Gibson, coxswain Kenzie Obrochta and Emily Ruble.
The next race saw Kansas State take a slight lead with KU finishing second (7:05.2) to the Wildcats in the Third Varsity Eight. Members of the KU boat included freshmen Kathleen Brady, Bailey Brandon, Kate Cropp, Kylee Dewey, Christina Granzow, Madison Hovis, Olivia Loney, coxswain Mallory Miller and Allison Schaaf.
The Jayhawks bounced back with a victory (7:34.2) in the Second Varsity Four. In the boat for KU were senior Meghan Cahill, junior Erin Brogan, Alexa Fowlkes, coxswain Sarah Lasini and sophomore Jackie Adamle.
Kansas continued the day by adding a first-place finish (7:29.8) in the First Varsity Four. Members of the boat were seniors Carly Iverson, Jessica Jacob, coxswain Abbey Lozenski, Emma Umbarger and sophomore Tessa Scott. The two-straight wins pushed the Jayhawks out to a 6-2 lead.
“We came into our race knowing they were going to try and jump out to a quick lead,” senior Carly Iverson said. “We stuck to our race plan, kept our rhythm and it worked out for us.”
The Second Varsity Eight race, however, saw KU fall behind early and K-State never looked back, leaving the Jayhawks with a second-place finish (6:51.9). Guiding the boat were seniors Kelsie Fiss, Jessica Miller, Kaylee Sextro, juniors Julia Alvey, Angie Flores-Rodriguez, Allie Griffin, sophomore coxswain Mary Slattery, freshmen Emma O’Neill and Katherine Young.
The morning session concluded with the Jayhawks finishing in second place (6:47.0) in the First Varsity Eight. Members of the boat included seniors Catherine Clements, Caitlyn Decker, Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins, Claudijah Lever, Elizabeth Scherer, Alexandra Torquemada, junior Brooke Thuston, sophomore Maggie Duncan and freshman Maddie Irelan. In the afternoon session, the First Varsity Eight squad trimmed a full four seconds off of that time.
“Our game plan was to go out and race our own race, as quickly as we could,” senior coxswain Catherine Clements said. “As a group, our boat might be a bit disappointed but we know it’s early and it gives us a lot to improve for later in the season.”
The Kansas coaching staff understands the 2014 season is still early, but they expected better results from their team.
“You always want to compete well, especially against your in-state rivals,” head coach Rob Catloth said. “We didn’t follow our race plan today and just didn’t compete to the level we were expecting.”
KU vs. DRAKE / KSU / SMU
Prior to its rivalry meeting with Kansas State, Kansas began the day with a first-place finish (8:03.3) in the Novice Four against Southern Methodist University (SMU). Powering the boat were sophomore Brie Mingus, freshmen Brianna Anderson, coxswain Sienna Durr, Jordan Helms and Brittney Railsback.
In back-to-back Varsity Four combination races, the Jayhawks First Varsity Four claimed first place (7:40.3) in the first race, thanks to seniors Carly Iverson, Jessica Jacob, coxswain Abbey Lozenski, Emma Umbarger and sophomore Tessa Scott. The next Varsity Four race saw KU earn second place (7:51.1).
KU then competed in the Third and Fourth Varsity Eight combination race, with the Third Varsity Eight finishing second overall (7:07.2). The team was comprised of freshmen Kathleen Brady, Bailey Brandon, Kate Cropp, Kylee Dewey, Christina Granzow, Madison Hovis, Olivia Loney, coxswain Mallory Miller and Allison Schaaf. Kansas’ Fourth Varsity Eight finished in third place (7:18.9).
The Jayhawks came out and dominated the Second Varsity Eight race, winning the race by 37 seconds (6:49.9). Doing work for KU were seniors Kelsie Fiss, Jessica Miller, Kaylee Sextro, juniors Julia Alvey, Angie Flores-Rodriguez, Allie Griffin, sophomore coxswain Mary Slattery, freshmen Emma O’Neill and Katherine Young.
The day concluded with Kansas’ First Varsity Eight earning first place (6:43.6) over Drake. Powering the boat were senior coxswain Catherine Clements, Caitlyn Decker, Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins, Elizabeth Scherer, Alexandra Torquemada, juniors Claudijah Lever, Brooke Thuston, sophomore Maggie Duncan and freshman Maddie Irelan.
Following the action, Catloth and his coaching staff honored their veteran Jayhawks with the Senior Day presentation with family and friends.
The Jayhawks will next travel to Sacramento, Calif., for the Lake Natoma Invite beginning April 12, 2014.
Kansas Boatings
First Varsity Eight – 2nd (6:47.0)
Catherine Clements – Coxswain
Alexandra Torquemada
Elizabeth Scherer
Caitlyn Decker
Brooke Thuston
Claudijah Lever
Maddie Irelan
Maggie Duncan
Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins
First Varsity Four – 1st (7:29.8)
Abbey Lozenski – Coxswain
Tessa Scott
Emma Umbarger
Jessica Jacob
Carly Iverson
Second Varsity Eight – 2nd (6:51.9)
Mary Slattery – Coxswain
Julia Alvey
Kaylee Sextro
Allie Griffin
Emma O’Neill
Katherine Young
Angie Flores-Rodriguez
Jessica Miller
Kelsie Fiss
Third Varsity Eight – 2nd (7:05.2)
Mallory Miller – Coxswain
Christina Granzow
Allison Schaaf
Olivia Loney
Kylee Dewey
Bailey Brandon
Madison Hovis
Kate Cropp
Kathleen Brady
Second Varsity Four – 1st (7:34.2)
Sarah Lasini – Coxswain
Jackie Adamle
Meghan Cahill
Alexa Fowlkes
Erin Brogan
Fourth Varsity Eight – 1st (7:07.5)
Kenzie Obrochta – Coxswain
Breeona Foster
Emily Ruble
Jennifer Hartzler
Casey Kelly
Kristen Byrd
Danielle Gibson
Andrea Joyce
Laura Foster
Novice Four – 1st (8:03.9)
Sienna Durr – Coxswain
Brittney Railsback
Brie Mingus
Jordan Helms
Brianna Anderson
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