K-State Rowing to Compete at SIRAs in Preparation for Big 12 Championship

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's rowing team will have time to prepare for May's Big 12 Championship this weekend, as the team travels to Oak Ridge, Tennessee to race at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta (SIRAs) on Saturday and Sunday.

The course, which is held on Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tennessee will play host to the Big 12 Championship on May 12-13. The Wildcats have a successful history at SIRA's, after winning gold in each of the four Wildcat boats a season ago. Since 2014, the Wildcats have claimed medals in each of their boats.

"There are a number of small, competitive schools competing this weekend," Head Coach Patrick Sweeney said in preparation for the regatta. "One reason we like doing this race is it gives us a chance to see the Big 12 venue, its good water, it is one of the better courses in the country, that is why we like to go there."

On Saturday, the Wildcats will have five boats on the water during the time-trials, with the 2v8+ and 3v8+ boats competing at 9:05 a.m. CT, before the 1v4+ and 2v4+ boats race at 9:40 a.m. The K-State 1v8+ boat will round out the morning at 10:20 a.m.

The Wildcats will then compete in the semifinal races on Saturday afternoon to determine the finals that will take place on Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m.

K-State is coming off cold conditions at the Big 12 Double Dual meet two weeks ago, in which the Wildcats claimed two event victories from the 3v8+ boat that beat Tennessee and the 2v8+ boat that defeated Alabama. However, since their spring camp in California, the Wildcats have had limited time to practice on open water.

"With the good course, we will likely get five or six sessions on the water while we are there," Sweeney added. "For us, the big key is we are getting on the water, so we are looking forward to the water time as much as anything else."

During their time in Tennessee, the Wildcats look to have ample water time to help prepare them for future competitions. Following this weekend's SIRA Championship regatta, the Wildcats will return home to Kansas to compete in the Sunflower Showdown on April 28, before heading back to Oak Ridge to compete in the Big 12 Championship on May 12-13.

For more information on the SIRA Championship Regatta, including a full schedule, history of the regatta and more, visit the organization's home page here. Live results will be provided throughout the weekend by HereNOW, which are available here. For a livestream of the races provided by USRowing, click here.

For the latest on K-State Rowing, follow @kstatesports and @KStateROW on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateROW or on the team's Facebook page.

Kansas State University Athletics

K-State Rowing to Compete at SIRAs in Preparation for Big 12 Championship

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