K-State Rowing Tops Bluejays in Duel Regatta

OMAHA, Neb. – The Kansas State women's rowing team battled through choppy waters and high winds at the Creighton Duel on Sunday (April 24) at Carter Lake. The Wildcats came out victorious in multiple events despite deteriorating conditions and multiple changes to the competition schedule.

"We want to thank Dan Chipps and his staff for getting the racing off even with difficult conditions," stated head coach Patrick Sweeney. "We're pleased with how the team handle everything today. Our coxswains made good decisions in holding their crews together and getting them to perform."

The day began with a strong performance from the varsity 8+. The crew was comprised of sophomore coxswain Lauren Plum, juniors Elizabeth Mummert and Maya Morrow, freshmen Rachel Harman and Madison Koller, juniors Madison Jensen and Megan Michaelis and sophomores Idallis Shaffer and Jadyn Greisen.

"Throughout the race the conditions were rough, so we tried to establish a rhythm and focus on technique," said Mummert. "We were able to move up on Creighton within the first 500 meters of the race and maintained distance from them through the finish."

The crew finished on top in first place with a time of 6:41.81, 12 seconds faster than the Bluejays.

"I'm very proud of my crew for working together this weekend. We are ready to finish off the season strong," said Mummert.

Up next was the second varsity 8+ with sophomore coxswain Kelsey Ladlie and rower's sophomore Lauren Walker, sophomore Kaylee Kleinschmit, sophomore Patricia Hokanson, junior Ellie Hahn, freshmen Anna Ryan and Symone Simmons, junior Kate Odgers and sophomore Jessica Schenk. With a time of 7:05.1, the Wildcats placed first.

"Off the start, we were able to build into a good pace with solid power. Soon after the build, the race got a little messy," stated Ryan. "We were fighting the conditions through the 500 and the 750, but we were able to refocus and regroup to make a good push. We gained open water in the last 1000."

The varsity 4+ built off the momentum of the morning, winning their race in a dominating fashion. The lineup consisted of sophomore coxswain Sydney Smith alongside sophomores Lindsey DeVreugd, Alyssa Buettner and freshmen Anita Eckhardt and Catie Wood.

"Our race today started off a little rough. The water was rolling so it threw us off in the first 500," said Buettner. "But as we came into the second 500, we came together and really started attacking it as a boat. At about the 1000 we really focused back in on our technique."

The crew finished in first place at 7:43.3, 28 seconds ahead of Creighton.

"When the water isn't great it can be easy to lose each other. Focusing on that mid race was crucial to our win," said Buettner.

The second varsity 4+ recorded a second-place finish in their event with a time of 8:13.4. The all-freshman boat, consisted of coxswain Sarah Schrage, Gracyn McClain, Madelyn Barrett, Jayden Brandt and Annika Senn.

The final race of the day was a massive win for the Wildcats in the third varsity 8+. The all-freshmen crew consisted of coxswain Paige Fox and rowers Neva Roenne, Jordan Girkin, Grace Hendrickson, Kendra Hamman, Chloe Daniels, Faith Gates, Emily Stark and Halle Fee.

"Going into the race, we knew we would have to face different challenges than other races this season," said Roenne. "Our start was solid; we walked through the Creighton boat in the first quarter of the race. After the halfway point, we were putting solid open water between us and our competition. The conditions were the worst in the last section of the race, but our boat handled it well."

The crew recorded a time of 7:13.4 with Creighton 39 seconds behind.

"The boats did a really good job under the circumstances," said Sweeney. "We've made good progress across all crews. Each boat is learning and holding onto that from race to race."

The Dillons Sunflower Showdown is up next for K-State on Saturday (April 30) in Kansas City, Kansas on Wyandotte County Lake. The Wildcats are looking to take back the Sunflower Showdown trophy from in state rival Kansas.

"The two big weekends of the season are next on the schedule," said Roenne. "I am excited to see how our training will set us up against other Big 12 teams. I am also excited to race close to home, where our friends and family can join us and see what this team really is."

Creighton Duel
Carter Lake
Omaha, Nebraska

K-State Results
Varsity 8+
1. Kansas State, 6:41.81; 2. Creighton, 6:53.2

K-State Results
Second Varsity 8+
1. Kansas State, 7:05.1; 2. Creighton, 7:11.9

K-State Results
Varsity 4+
1. Kansas State, 7:43.3; 2. Creighton 8:11.2

K-State Results
Second Varsity 4+
1. Creighton, 8:02.5; 2. Kansas State, 8:13.4

K-State Results
Third Varsity 8+
1. Kansas State, 7:13.4; 2. Creighton, 7:52.5

K-State Lineups
First Varsity 8+
Cox: Lauren Plum, 8. Elizabeth Mummert, 7. Maya Morrow, 6. Rachel Harman, 5. Madison Koller, 4. Madison Jensen, 3. Megan Michaelis, 2. Idallis Shaffer, 1. Jadyn Greisen

Second Varsity 8+
Cox: Kelsey Ladlie, 8. Lauren Walker, 7. Kaylee Kleinschmit, 6. Patricia Hokanson, 5. Ellie Hahn, 4. Anna Ryan, 3. Symone Simmons, 2. Kate Odgers, 1. Jessica Schenk

Third Varsity 8+
Cox: Paige Fox, 8. Neva Roenne, 7. Jordan Girkin, 6. Grace Hendrickson, 5. Kendra Hamman, 4. Chloe Daniels, 3. Faith Gates, 2. Emily Stark, 1. Halle Fee

First Varsity 4+
Cox: Sydney Smith, 4. Lindsey DeVreugd, 3. Alyssa Buettner, 2. Anita Eckhardt, 1. Catie Wood

Second Varsity 4+
Cox: Sarah Schrage, 4. Gracyn McClain, 3. Madelyn Barrett, 2. Jayden Brandt, 1. Annika Senn

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

Kansas State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Madelyn Barrett

Jayden Brandt

Alyssa Buettner

Chloe Daniels

Lindsey DeVreugd

Anita Eckhardt

Halle Fee

Paige Fox

Faith Gates

Jordan Girkin

Jadyn Greisen

Ellie Hahn

Kendra Hamman

Rachel Harman

Grace Hendrickson

Patricia Hokanson

Madison Jensen

Kaylee Kleinschmit

Madison Koller

Kelsey Ladlie

Gracyn McClain

Megan Michaelis

Maya Morrow

Elizabeth Mummert

Kate Odgers

Lauren Plum

Neva Roenne

Anna Ryan

Jessica Schenk

Sarah Schrage

Annika Senn

Idallis Shaffer

Symone Simmons

Sydney Smith

Emily Stark

Lauren Walker

Catie Wood