Kansas Rowing Celebrates Season with Team Banquet
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas rowing team held its annual team banquet Sunday night following the completion of the 2013-14 season, which was capped off by a third-place mark in the Big 12 Championship and a seventh-place finish at the Conference USA (C-USA) Championship.
Oarswoman of the Year: Elizabeth Scherer, Senior, Wamego, Kansas
Scherer was a significant contributor and a team leader from the First Varsity Eight boat throughout the 2013-14 season. The boat earned eight top-five finishes in as many races, including a victory over Drake at the Sunflower Showdown in Kansas City, Kan. The First Varsity Eight finished third at the Big 12 Championship, while concluding their season with a fifth-place finish at the C-USA Championship.
Nikia Rosenberger Coxswain Award: Abbey Lozenski, Senior, Lansing, Kansas
A coxswain is charged with the task of being a vocal leader, while also guiding and directing the boat during a race. Lozenski has done a tremendous job guiding her First Varsity Four boat this season as it accumulated eight top-three finishes, including victories at the Big 12 Championship, the Lake Natoma Invite, two wins at the Sunflower Showdown and another at the Louisville Invite. The First Varsity Four was statistically the most successful boat for KU this season – and Lozenski had a key role in that success.
Most Improved Oarswoman: Carly Iverson, Senior, Lenexa, Kansas
Also a member of the First Varsity Four, Iverson helped provide the muscle that drove her boat to five total victories and eight top-three finishes. She came back stronger than ever after spending most of her junior season as a member of the Second Varsity Four. Iverson’s strong improvement was an instrumental part to the First Varsity Four’s success in 2013-14.
Most Improved Freshman: Olivia Loney, Freshman, Lawrence, Kansas
Loney, a former cross-country and swimming competitor from Lawrence Free State High School, adapted well to rowing in her first year of competing in the sport. As a member of both the First Novice Eight and Third Varsity Eight, Loney helped her boat to nine finishes in the top-three, including an impressive victory at the C-USA Championships to conclude the team’s season.
Outstanding Freshman: Maddie Irelan, Freshman, Dublin, Ohio
Irelan came into the program as an experienced rower and it showed right off the bat. In her first collegiate race at the Head of the Oklahoma, Irelan helped her Collegiate Novice Four boat secure a victory. She helped her boat place second at the inaugural Jayhawk Jamboree, followed by two second-place finishes at the Head of the Hooch to conclude the fall portion of the season. By the time the Louisville Invite came around, the first race of the spring season, Irelan became a staple member of the First Varsity Eight boat where she remained the rest of the season.
“Essence of a Jayhawk”: Kelsie Fiss, Senior, Kansas City, Kansas
Fiss spent the 2013-14 season as a member of the highly-successful First Varsity Four boat. She contributed in eight top-three finishes, including five victories. The First Varsity Four claimed victories at the Big 12 Championships, the Lake Natoma Invite, two wins at the Sunflower Showdown and one at the Louisville Invite.
The “Essence of a Jayhawk” award is special in that the individual embodies what it means to be a Jayhawk. Fiss was a supporter of all Jayhawks, not just her own team, but other teams, as well. She is involved in the University and strives to not only better herself, but the athletic department as a whole. The award is voted on by the senior class.
“Class of 2000” Team Academic Award
The “Class of 2000” Team Academic Award was given to five rowers this season with all five women carrying an admirable GPA of 3.70 or better for the 2013-14 season. The rowers include seniors Catherine Clements, Elizabeth Scherer, Emma Umbarger, junior Jessica Jacob and sophomore Tessa Scott.
Catherine Clements – Clements is a four-time member of the Big 12 and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She has earned three-consecutive C-USA Academic Medals, is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team member and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award, the Big 12 Conference’ highest academic honor.
Elizabeth Scherer – Like Clements, Scherer is also a four-time member of the Big 12 and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She has earned an outstanding four-consecutive C-USA Academic Medals, is a four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team member and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award, the Big 12 Conference’ highest academic honor.
Jessica Jacob – A two-time member of the Big 12 and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Jacob has earned two C-USA Academic Medals and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award.
Tessa Scott – A first-time member of the Big 12 and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Scott received her first C-USA Academic Medal in 2014.
Emma Umbarger – A three-time member of the Big 12 All-Academic team, Umbarger was named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and received a C-USA Academic Medal in 2014.
Senior Oarswoman Graduating Class of 2014
Meghan Cahill
Catherine Clements
Caitlyn Decker
Kelsie Fiss
Carly Iverson
Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins
Amanda Lewis
Abbey Lozenski
Jessica Miller
Cara Murray
Elizabeth Scherer
Kaylee Sextro
Alexandra Torquemada
Emma Umbarger
Senior Academic Achievement
Elizabeth Scherer
Catherine Clements
Emma Umbarger
Cara Murray
Abbey Lozenski
Jessica Miller
Kelsie Fiss
Carly Iverson
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
###
