Kansas State University Athletics

Four K-State Boats Medal, Three Gold, in SIRA Championships
Apr 18, 2023 | Rowing
Wildcats will duel against Creighton on Saturday April 22
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State women's rowing team won four medals during the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships on Saturday (April 15) and Sunday (April 16) in Oak Ridge, Tenn., at Melton Hill Lake. The team walked away with three gold medals and one silver.
The 1v8+, 2v8+ and 3v8+ came in first place during Sunday's 'A' finals and the 1v4+ came in second.
Saturday races included preliminary timed trials formatted similar to a head race, where all boats competed to establish heats for semifinals. The semifinals followed a standard race format of 2000 meters off the blocks, with all boats competing to qualify for the 'A' final. The Novice 8+ did not have a semifinal and only competed in time trials and finals.
"The weekend was a good opportunity for us to continue getting consistent water time. We were able to get more experience on a racecourse and it was great to have four days of good water to prepare," head coach Patrick Sweeney said. "The team has made progress from race to race, and we had three more opportunities to come down the course. It was a productive weekend and we're proud of the results with four crews medaling."
The 2v8+ had a dominant weekend, winning every race they competed in. The lineup consisted of senior coxswain Lauren Plum, sophomore Grace Hendrickson, freshman Bianca Wollmeister, sophomore Anna Ryan, junior Patricia Hokanson, freshmen Sylvia Cunningham and Kay Pakkebier, sophomore Jayden Brandt and junior Kaylee Kleinschmit.
"Having three races in one weekend allowed us to really focus in and improve a lot as a boat. We built off of each race, looking at what went well and what needed work on, then made that our focus for the next race," Kleinschmit said.
The crew recorded a time of 6:13.96, having the fastest time of any boat competing in their event. The crew continued setting the tone for the weekend by crushing their semifinal race with a time of 7:16.73.
"I was really impressed and proud of the girls in my boat for coming together the way that they did," Plum said. "We started the weekend strong with a sold time trial and a good performance during the semi-finals."
Before the 'A' finals on Sunday morning, another boat collided into the 2v8+ during warmups causing a rigger to break. The crew was able to rise above the situation, channeling that energy into a strong race to earn a gold medal.
"It was a crazy situation but I'm really proud of the girls in my boat for coming back together and competing like we did. We had a really strong race," Kleinschmit said.
The Wildcats finished with a time of 6:58.91, five seconds ahead of second place finisher Jacksonville.
"I can't even begin to express how proud I am of each girl in my boat for making the most out of this weekend and getting the gold despite the challenges we faced," Plum said.
The 1v8+ also had a successful weekend, coming in first in each of their races. The boat consisted of coxswain Paige Fox, sophomores Gracyn McClain, Jordan Girkin, Rachel Harman, Madison Koller, Madelyn Barrett, senior Madison Jensen, sophomore Symone Simmons and senior Idallis Shaffer.
"Last weekend we connected as a boat not only on the water, but off it as well," Girkin said. "Saying no matter the outcome, we will back up one another and always remain proud. I think that's what truly united us as one, knowing that whatever we do, it's for each other."
The crew completed their time trial in 6:12.12. They then went on to win their semifinal race at 7:19.43. In the final race they took gold with a time of 7:00.23, continuing to improve throughout the weekend.
The 3v8+ was the third Wildcats boat to earn gold competing in the Women's Novice 8+ event, with freshmen coxswain Kennedy Loyd, freshmen Ellie Erwin, Makenzie Storm, Grace Hall, Emma Johnson, Ava Werner, Zoey Whorton, junior McKenna Johnson, and freshman Tatum Alexander
"Any water time is crucial to finding connection and working as one unit in our boat, so we had the focus of knowing we are strong and capable enough of producing a victory, but just needed to be efficient and effective through the water," E. Johnson said.
In the boats timed trial on Saturday they finished in first place with a time of 6:22.23.
"Another big focus for our boat this weekend was to work on our finish of the races, as it had been a weaker point throughout the season," Johnson said. "We were able to make some major improvements on how we finished the race, that progress allowed our boat to come off the water feeling proud of the work we had put in."
During finals on Sunday, the boat worked their way to a gold medal with a time of 7:12.23, 17 seconds faster than the next competitor.
The 1v4+ also medaled on Sunday, earning silver in their event at 7:36.57. The boat consisted of senior coxswain Kaitlyn Henke, sophomore Neva Roenne, junior Jadyn Greisen and sophomores Emily Stark and Halle Fee.
"Lots of races this weekend gave us the opportunity to work on pieces of the race plan we needed to," Roenne said. "Racing against so many teams creates a very competitive environment and it was fun to see how our boat is improving."
The boat also finished second in the semifinals with a time of 7:59.51.
"This weekend we found success with the finish of our races and executing the end of the 2k. We have found that we can execute each part of a race. Going forward, the focus will be on putting all of the pieces together for the most efficient race piece possible," Roenne said.
The 2v4+ boat, consisting of freshman coxswain Kiersten Schmalz, junior Lindsey DeVreugd, sophomores Kendra Hamman and Catie Wood and junior Alyssa Buettner, finished third during Saturday's semifinals to earn a spot in the 'A' final with a time of 8:05.59. The crew finished finals fifth overall in 7:48.35.
This past weekend of racing was an opportunity for the 'Cats to continue making progress while remaining focused on the rest of the season.
"Competing in such a large regatta gave us motivation to really push ourselves," Johnson said. "We are looking forward to continuing to use our connection to get faster. There's going to be some stiff competition in our next couple of races, so it'll be fun to see how our boat can rise to the occasion."
"Going into the remaining races I believe that my boat and our team as a whole will have more confidence," Kleinschmit said. "We've been able to practice and solidify our race plans as well as gain the knowledge to know we are capable even when faced with difficult situations. This is what we've been practicing for all year and now we're able to see it come together and pay off."
The Wildcats are back on the water Saturday (April 22) in a duel against Creighton in Omaha, Neb.
"We're using each race as an opportunity to prepare for the rest of the season. Each week we're continuing to learn and gain speed," Sweeney said. "This hasn't been a typical year, but we are looking forward to finishing the year strong and continuing to push the program forward."
SIRA Championship Regatta
Melton Hill Lake
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Saturday Heats
Third Varsity 8+/ Novice 8+ (3v8+/ N8+)
1. K-State; 6:22.23, 2. Jacksonville; 6:37.69, 3. Dayton; 6:48.68
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+)
1. K-State; 6:13.96, 2. Jacksonville; 6:17.65, 3. Purdue; 6:37.67, 4. Dayton 'B'; 6:42.53, 5. Virginia Tech; 6:49.37, 6. George Mason; 6:50.69, 7. Dayton 'A'; 7:10.10, 8. Drake; 7:24.44
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+)
1. FIT; 6:47.83, 2. Jacksonville 'A'; 6:54.15, 3. Jacksonville 'B'; 6 :54.93, 4. K-State 'A'; 6 :57.60, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:03.43, 6. Embry-Riddle; 7:19.35, 7. Rollins College; 7:23.63, 8. Jacksonville 'C'; 7:25.13, 9. Tampa; 7:26.78, 10. Barry; 7:31.78, 11. George Mason 'A'; 7:44.39, 12. Drake; 8:10.21, 13. George Mason 'B'; 8:23.31
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+)
1. FIT; 6:47.83, 2. Jacksonville 'A'; 6:54.15, 3. Jacksonville 'B'; 6 :54.93, 4. K-State 'A'; 6 :57.60, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:03.43, 6. Embry-Riddle; 7:19.35, 7. Rollins College; 7:23.63, 8. Jacksonville 'C'; 7:25.13, 9. Tampa; 7:26.78, 10. Barry; 7:31.78, 11. George Mason 'A'; 7:44.39, 12. Drake; 8:10.21, 13. George Mason 'B'; 8:23.31
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+)
1. K-State; 6:12.12, 2. Embry-Riddle; 6:14.68, 3. Jacksonville; 6:16.81, 4. Dayton; 6:20.98, 5. Rollins College; 6:22.48, 6. Barry; 6:27.31, 7. George Mason; 6:33.34, 8. Purdue; 6:34.63, 9. Drake; 6:55.66
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+) Semifinal
1. K-State; 7:16.73, 2. Dayton 'B'; 7:49.15, 3. Drake; 8:03.71, 4. Virginia Tech; 8:16.66
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+) 'A' Semifinal
1. FIT; 7:54.83, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:59.51, 3. K-State 'B'; 8:05.59, 4. Tampa; 8:22.53, 5. Jacksonville 'C'; 8:42.85, 6. Drake; 9:28.58
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+) 'A' Semifinal
1. FIT; 7:54.83, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:59.51, 3. K-State 'B'; 8:05.59, 4. Tampa; 8:22.53, 5. Jacksonville 'C'; 8:42.85, 6. Drake; 9:28.58
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+) 'A' Semifinal
1. K-State; 7:19.43, 2. Dayton; 7:25.28, 3. Rollins College; 7:35.34, 4. Purdue; 7:36.77, 5. Drake; 7:51.99
Sunday Finals
Third Varsity 8+ (3v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State, 7:12.23, 2. Jacksonville; 7:29.11, 3. Dayton; 7:35.49
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State, 6:58.91, 2. Jacksonville; 7:04.45, 3. Dayton 'B'; 7:25.28, 4. Purdue; 7:26.57, 5. Drake; 7:38.81, 6. George Mason; 7:42.86, 7. Virginia Tech; 7:50.20
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+) 'A' Final
1. FIT; 7:33.94, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:36.57, 3. Jacksonville 'A'; 7:43.77, 4. Jacksonville 'B'; 7:46.42, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:48.35, 6. Embry-Riddle; 8:14.17
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+) 'A' Final
1. FIT; 7:33.94, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:36.57, 3. Jacksonville 'A'; 7:43.77, 4. Jacksonville 'B'; 7:46.42, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:48.35, 6. Embry-Riddle; 8:14.17
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State; 7:00.23, 2. Jacksonville; 7:04.40, 3. Dayton; 7:04.84, 4. Embry-Riddle; 7:09.66, 5. Rollins College; 7:20.28, 6. Barry; 7:26.92
K-State lineups:
1v4+ lineup:
Cox: Kaitlyn Henke, Stroke: Neva Roenne, 3. Jadyn Greisen, 2. Emily Stark, Bow: Halle Fee
2v4+ lineup:
Cox: Kiersten Schmalz, Stroke: Lindsey DeVreugd, 3. Kendra Hamman, 2. Catie Wood, Bow: Alyssa Buettner
1v8+ lineup:
Cox: Paige Fox, Stroke: Gracyn McClain, 7. Jordan Girkin, 6. Rachel Harman, 5. Madison Koller, 4. Madelyn Barrett, 3. Madison Jensen, 2. Symone Simmons, Bow: Idallis Shaffer
2v8+ lineup:
Cox: Lauren Plum, Stroke: Grace Hendrickson, 7. Bianca Wollmeister, 6. Anna Ryan, 5. Patricia Hokanson, 4. Sylvia Cunningham, 3. Kay Pakkebier, 2. Jayden Brandt, Bow: Kaylee Kleinschmit
3v8+ lineup:
Cox: Kennedy Loyd, Stroke: Ellie Erwin, 7. Makenzie Storm, 6. Grace Hall, 5. Emma Johnson, 4. Ava Werner, 3. Zoey Whorton, 2. McKenna Johnson, Bow: Tatum Alexander
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Women's Rowing Team, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The 1v8+, 2v8+ and 3v8+ came in first place during Sunday's 'A' finals and the 1v4+ came in second.
Saturday races included preliminary timed trials formatted similar to a head race, where all boats competed to establish heats for semifinals. The semifinals followed a standard race format of 2000 meters off the blocks, with all boats competing to qualify for the 'A' final. The Novice 8+ did not have a semifinal and only competed in time trials and finals.
"The weekend was a good opportunity for us to continue getting consistent water time. We were able to get more experience on a racecourse and it was great to have four days of good water to prepare," head coach Patrick Sweeney said. "The team has made progress from race to race, and we had three more opportunities to come down the course. It was a productive weekend and we're proud of the results with four crews medaling."
The 2v8+ had a dominant weekend, winning every race they competed in. The lineup consisted of senior coxswain Lauren Plum, sophomore Grace Hendrickson, freshman Bianca Wollmeister, sophomore Anna Ryan, junior Patricia Hokanson, freshmen Sylvia Cunningham and Kay Pakkebier, sophomore Jayden Brandt and junior Kaylee Kleinschmit.
"Having three races in one weekend allowed us to really focus in and improve a lot as a boat. We built off of each race, looking at what went well and what needed work on, then made that our focus for the next race," Kleinschmit said.
The crew recorded a time of 6:13.96, having the fastest time of any boat competing in their event. The crew continued setting the tone for the weekend by crushing their semifinal race with a time of 7:16.73.
"I was really impressed and proud of the girls in my boat for coming together the way that they did," Plum said. "We started the weekend strong with a sold time trial and a good performance during the semi-finals."
Before the 'A' finals on Sunday morning, another boat collided into the 2v8+ during warmups causing a rigger to break. The crew was able to rise above the situation, channeling that energy into a strong race to earn a gold medal.
"It was a crazy situation but I'm really proud of the girls in my boat for coming back together and competing like we did. We had a really strong race," Kleinschmit said.
The Wildcats finished with a time of 6:58.91, five seconds ahead of second place finisher Jacksonville.
"I can't even begin to express how proud I am of each girl in my boat for making the most out of this weekend and getting the gold despite the challenges we faced," Plum said.
The 1v8+ also had a successful weekend, coming in first in each of their races. The boat consisted of coxswain Paige Fox, sophomores Gracyn McClain, Jordan Girkin, Rachel Harman, Madison Koller, Madelyn Barrett, senior Madison Jensen, sophomore Symone Simmons and senior Idallis Shaffer.
"Last weekend we connected as a boat not only on the water, but off it as well," Girkin said. "Saying no matter the outcome, we will back up one another and always remain proud. I think that's what truly united us as one, knowing that whatever we do, it's for each other."
The crew completed their time trial in 6:12.12. They then went on to win their semifinal race at 7:19.43. In the final race they took gold with a time of 7:00.23, continuing to improve throughout the weekend.
The 3v8+ was the third Wildcats boat to earn gold competing in the Women's Novice 8+ event, with freshmen coxswain Kennedy Loyd, freshmen Ellie Erwin, Makenzie Storm, Grace Hall, Emma Johnson, Ava Werner, Zoey Whorton, junior McKenna Johnson, and freshman Tatum Alexander
"Any water time is crucial to finding connection and working as one unit in our boat, so we had the focus of knowing we are strong and capable enough of producing a victory, but just needed to be efficient and effective through the water," E. Johnson said.
In the boats timed trial on Saturday they finished in first place with a time of 6:22.23.
"Another big focus for our boat this weekend was to work on our finish of the races, as it had been a weaker point throughout the season," Johnson said. "We were able to make some major improvements on how we finished the race, that progress allowed our boat to come off the water feeling proud of the work we had put in."
During finals on Sunday, the boat worked their way to a gold medal with a time of 7:12.23, 17 seconds faster than the next competitor.
The 1v4+ also medaled on Sunday, earning silver in their event at 7:36.57. The boat consisted of senior coxswain Kaitlyn Henke, sophomore Neva Roenne, junior Jadyn Greisen and sophomores Emily Stark and Halle Fee.
"Lots of races this weekend gave us the opportunity to work on pieces of the race plan we needed to," Roenne said. "Racing against so many teams creates a very competitive environment and it was fun to see how our boat is improving."
The boat also finished second in the semifinals with a time of 7:59.51.
"This weekend we found success with the finish of our races and executing the end of the 2k. We have found that we can execute each part of a race. Going forward, the focus will be on putting all of the pieces together for the most efficient race piece possible," Roenne said.
The 2v4+ boat, consisting of freshman coxswain Kiersten Schmalz, junior Lindsey DeVreugd, sophomores Kendra Hamman and Catie Wood and junior Alyssa Buettner, finished third during Saturday's semifinals to earn a spot in the 'A' final with a time of 8:05.59. The crew finished finals fifth overall in 7:48.35.
This past weekend of racing was an opportunity for the 'Cats to continue making progress while remaining focused on the rest of the season.
"Competing in such a large regatta gave us motivation to really push ourselves," Johnson said. "We are looking forward to continuing to use our connection to get faster. There's going to be some stiff competition in our next couple of races, so it'll be fun to see how our boat can rise to the occasion."
"Going into the remaining races I believe that my boat and our team as a whole will have more confidence," Kleinschmit said. "We've been able to practice and solidify our race plans as well as gain the knowledge to know we are capable even when faced with difficult situations. This is what we've been practicing for all year and now we're able to see it come together and pay off."
The Wildcats are back on the water Saturday (April 22) in a duel against Creighton in Omaha, Neb.
"We're using each race as an opportunity to prepare for the rest of the season. Each week we're continuing to learn and gain speed," Sweeney said. "This hasn't been a typical year, but we are looking forward to finishing the year strong and continuing to push the program forward."
SIRA Championship Regatta
Melton Hill Lake
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Saturday Heats
Third Varsity 8+/ Novice 8+ (3v8+/ N8+)
1. K-State; 6:22.23, 2. Jacksonville; 6:37.69, 3. Dayton; 6:48.68
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+)
1. K-State; 6:13.96, 2. Jacksonville; 6:17.65, 3. Purdue; 6:37.67, 4. Dayton 'B'; 6:42.53, 5. Virginia Tech; 6:49.37, 6. George Mason; 6:50.69, 7. Dayton 'A'; 7:10.10, 8. Drake; 7:24.44
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+)
1. FIT; 6:47.83, 2. Jacksonville 'A'; 6:54.15, 3. Jacksonville 'B'; 6 :54.93, 4. K-State 'A'; 6 :57.60, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:03.43, 6. Embry-Riddle; 7:19.35, 7. Rollins College; 7:23.63, 8. Jacksonville 'C'; 7:25.13, 9. Tampa; 7:26.78, 10. Barry; 7:31.78, 11. George Mason 'A'; 7:44.39, 12. Drake; 8:10.21, 13. George Mason 'B'; 8:23.31
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+)
1. FIT; 6:47.83, 2. Jacksonville 'A'; 6:54.15, 3. Jacksonville 'B'; 6 :54.93, 4. K-State 'A'; 6 :57.60, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:03.43, 6. Embry-Riddle; 7:19.35, 7. Rollins College; 7:23.63, 8. Jacksonville 'C'; 7:25.13, 9. Tampa; 7:26.78, 10. Barry; 7:31.78, 11. George Mason 'A'; 7:44.39, 12. Drake; 8:10.21, 13. George Mason 'B'; 8:23.31
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+)
1. K-State; 6:12.12, 2. Embry-Riddle; 6:14.68, 3. Jacksonville; 6:16.81, 4. Dayton; 6:20.98, 5. Rollins College; 6:22.48, 6. Barry; 6:27.31, 7. George Mason; 6:33.34, 8. Purdue; 6:34.63, 9. Drake; 6:55.66
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+) Semifinal
1. K-State; 7:16.73, 2. Dayton 'B'; 7:49.15, 3. Drake; 8:03.71, 4. Virginia Tech; 8:16.66
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+) 'A' Semifinal
1. FIT; 7:54.83, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:59.51, 3. K-State 'B'; 8:05.59, 4. Tampa; 8:22.53, 5. Jacksonville 'C'; 8:42.85, 6. Drake; 9:28.58
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+) 'A' Semifinal
1. FIT; 7:54.83, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:59.51, 3. K-State 'B'; 8:05.59, 4. Tampa; 8:22.53, 5. Jacksonville 'C'; 8:42.85, 6. Drake; 9:28.58
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+) 'A' Semifinal
1. K-State; 7:19.43, 2. Dayton; 7:25.28, 3. Rollins College; 7:35.34, 4. Purdue; 7:36.77, 5. Drake; 7:51.99
Sunday Finals
Third Varsity 8+ (3v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State, 7:12.23, 2. Jacksonville; 7:29.11, 3. Dayton; 7:35.49
Second Varsity 8+ (2v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State, 6:58.91, 2. Jacksonville; 7:04.45, 3. Dayton 'B'; 7:25.28, 4. Purdue; 7:26.57, 5. Drake; 7:38.81, 6. George Mason; 7:42.86, 7. Virginia Tech; 7:50.20
First Varsity 4+ (1v4+) 'A' Final
1. FIT; 7:33.94, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:36.57, 3. Jacksonville 'A'; 7:43.77, 4. Jacksonville 'B'; 7:46.42, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:48.35, 6. Embry-Riddle; 8:14.17
Second Varsity 4+ (2v4+) 'A' Final
1. FIT; 7:33.94, 2. K-State 'A'; 7:36.57, 3. Jacksonville 'A'; 7:43.77, 4. Jacksonville 'B'; 7:46.42, 5. K-State 'B'; 7:48.35, 6. Embry-Riddle; 8:14.17
First Varsity 8+ (1v8+) 'A' Final
1. K-State; 7:00.23, 2. Jacksonville; 7:04.40, 3. Dayton; 7:04.84, 4. Embry-Riddle; 7:09.66, 5. Rollins College; 7:20.28, 6. Barry; 7:26.92
K-State lineups:
1v4+ lineup:
Cox: Kaitlyn Henke, Stroke: Neva Roenne, 3. Jadyn Greisen, 2. Emily Stark, Bow: Halle Fee
2v4+ lineup:
Cox: Kiersten Schmalz, Stroke: Lindsey DeVreugd, 3. Kendra Hamman, 2. Catie Wood, Bow: Alyssa Buettner
1v8+ lineup:
Cox: Paige Fox, Stroke: Gracyn McClain, 7. Jordan Girkin, 6. Rachel Harman, 5. Madison Koller, 4. Madelyn Barrett, 3. Madison Jensen, 2. Symone Simmons, Bow: Idallis Shaffer
2v8+ lineup:
Cox: Lauren Plum, Stroke: Grace Hendrickson, 7. Bianca Wollmeister, 6. Anna Ryan, 5. Patricia Hokanson, 4. Sylvia Cunningham, 3. Kay Pakkebier, 2. Jayden Brandt, Bow: Kaylee Kleinschmit
3v8+ lineup:
Cox: Kennedy Loyd, Stroke: Ellie Erwin, 7. Makenzie Storm, 6. Grace Hall, 5. Emma Johnson, 4. Ava Werner, 3. Zoey Whorton, 2. McKenna Johnson, Bow: Tatum Alexander
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Women's Rowing Team, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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