Kansas State University Athletics

Sunday, May 18
Sarasota, Fla.
8 a.m. CT

Kansas State University

vs

Big 12 Championship

ROW 2025 Big 12 Championship

Three K-State Boats Medal in Final Race at Big 12 Championship

May 22, 2025 | Rowing

The race wrapped up the spring season and career for head coach Patrick Sweeney

SARASOTA, Fla. – The K-State women's rowing team wrapped up the 2025 spring season on Sunday (May 18) in the Big 12 Championship featuring two silver and bronze medal finishes at Nathan Benderson Park.
 
"The team did a good job this past weekend. We raced well across all boats, and it was a great way to wrap up the year," head coach Patrick Sweeney said. "Every season, our goal is to put as many boats as we can in a position to medal at Big 12s. We always say that a medal for one boat is a medal for the whole team.
 
"We knew heading into the weekend that we were in a good position and seeing everything come together the way it did is what we were looking for. We're proud of our athletes and they should be happy with everything they accomplished this year."
 
After five races, the Cats finished in 4th place with 49 points, just three points behind third-place Kansas, for the highest team finish since 2019. In its second season in the conference, UCF won the conference title with 84 points in the first postseason race featuring Kansas, UCF, West Virginia, Old Dominion and Tulsa.
 
"This year we came into racing with an optimistic mindset. The conference shift meant different competition and it made us hopeful for a successful season," junior Ellie Erwin said. "We knew it wouldn't be easy and I'm proud of all the work this team put in to wrap up the season like this."
 
After the conclusion of the race, three Wildcats were named to the All-Big 12 team: senior Gracyn McClain and juniors Sylvia Cunningham and Grace Hall. After the selection of these three, 23 women have earned All-Big 12 honors under Sweeney in his tenure.
 
"The team has accomplished so much this season. Not only did we have three boats get recognized by the Big 12 as Boat of the week but we also secured a significant amount of wins and hardware throughout the season," sophomore Regan Reker said. "Our team placed fourth overall this past weekend with 3/5 boats medaling. I just feel so proud of every woman on this team and the hard work we have put in to be where we are.
 
"More important than the wins, was our commitment to our team values that our captains put into place this year. I thought the team did a great job embodying each one and holding each other accountable for representing our team in the best light," Reker said. "It's bittersweet wrapping up the season. I feel an incredible amount of honor and pride knowing I was a part of this team… I'm looking forward to next season."
 
The 3v8+ earned the first medal of the day for K-State with a bronze medal performance at 7:17.59.
 
"The start of the race was really calm. We had a lot of time just sitting at the start, and it helped us focus in on having a strong start. KU was up a few seats from the start, but everyone in the boat was determined to hold on," freshman Lacy Miller said. "We changed our race plan for the second half, and every shift made a noticeable difference in moving more efficiently. Especially coming into the finish when we started to move on KU, it felt strong and powerful."
 
The boat consisted of freshman coxswain Mia Starnes, freshman Karlee Horyna, junior Bianca Wollmeister and freshmen Bryn Pawlik, Delaney Goshorn, Kendall Lane, Annika Janss, Abby Farr and Miller.
 
"My biggest takeaway from this weekend is to not take any moment for granted. Every hard work out and every correction means something," Miller said. "Collectively as a boat we recognized that when we do it together, we can really accomplish a lot. Definitely when it comes to the team, I think a big take away is that a medal for one boat is a reflection of the whole teams' hard work to get to that moment."
 
The 2v4+ earned the first silver medal of the day with a runner-up finish at 7:47.86, four seconds ahead of third-place Tulsa.
 
"We've been workshopping a lot with this boat over the past few weeks leading up to Big 12's. This race proved that all our work paid off. We stayed calm and collected the whole time which allowed us to make some big moves at the end that pushed us into that silver medal," Erwin said.
 
The boat competed with a lineup consisting of junior coxswain Kennedy Loyd, Erwin, senior Halle Fee, junior Makenzie Storm and sophomore Lorelei Harris.
 
"Before the race our boat had a solid warmup that had us feeling excited and confident that we were going to race well. At the start of the race, we fell behind, but we didn't let that get in our heads. We stayed calm and focused on our own rhythm and technique," Storm said. "Up to the 1000-meter mark we slowly climbed back even with Tulsa. At the 1000-meter mark Loyd called us into a shift and that's when we started to take off.
 
"With 500 meters to go, we started our finish and kept building from there. As we approached the finish line we continued to sharpen up and move as a unit. Once we crossed the finish line, we were all so excited and couldn't believe how great of a race we just had."
 
Racing with a lineup consisting of junior coxswain Kiersten Schmalz, seniors Rachel Harman and Madison Koller and Hall and Cunningham, the 1v4+ earned a silver medal with a time of 7:29.29.
 
"I have so much gratitude for our 14 seniors this year. They all mean the world not only to me but to this team. They have set the standard, and I am excited to carry on their legacy," Reker said. "Our team has the potential to be great and I am excited to see how we get there."
 
"As a senior, it is very bittersweet. I am proud of the work and accomplishments this team has had but also excited for our futures past K-State rowing," Storm said. "Looking forward, I hope that the team can continue to lean onto the core values and grow from them."
 
The 2v8+ came in 4th place at 6:57.19. The crew competed with a lineup consisting of sophomore coxswain Leah Roane, senior Jayden Brandt, junior Kay Pakkebier, McClain, junior Emma Johnson, sophomores Anna Guhr, Harmony Leiker, Reker and Izzy Ross.
 
"Our race was done with purpose. Five out of the 9 people in my boat were graduating so we knew this race had a lot of meaning. We had a good, clean start which we had been working on for the past few weeks, so it was fun to see our work come to life," Reker said. "We walked through West Virginia which felt good. We had been working on the pin and feeling the boat move underneath us and we did just that, it's always good when you let the boat do some of the work for you.
 
"The greatest push was our finish, we started at the 750 [meters] but we really started to move at the 500 and it was gritty and fun. Overall, we raced some tough teams and got fourth. I am so proud of our performance and how we raced it. We gave everything we had for each other which is the most important part."
 
In the final race of the day with the 1v8+, the boat clocked a time of 6:52.46 for a 4th place finish.
 
"The biggest moment in this race was around the 750. We started walking through West Virginia and didn't stop. Every 250 from that point on we made a shift," junior Kyla Traub said. "Throughout the whole race it felt like our boat was flying down the course. Everyone was working together and our blades matched perfectly. The boat felt light and as any rower knows, there's no better feeling than that."
 
The boat consisted of sophomore coxswain Regan Ahlers, Traub, sophomore Sienna Pargiter-Walker, seniors Symone Simmons and Madelyn Barrett, junior Ava Werner, sophomores Madelyn Navrkal and Kiersten Playter and senior Grace Hendrickson.
 
"My biggest takeaway from this past weekend was the unity of the boat. I have never been a part of a boat like this one. Everyone wanted the best for each other. We encouraged each other and ultimately, we trusted one another which is the most important thing in rowing," Traub said. "It took grit and determination, but everyone gave 100 percent to that boat and it paid off." 
 
The 2025 season was highlighted by three Big 12 Boat of the Week awards. With the first award on March 19 for the 1v4+ after three dominant wins at the Hornet Invitational (March 15-16), the 3v8+ on April 16 with a win during the Creighton Duel (April 13) and in consecutive weeks on April 24, the 2v8+ won after a silver medal performance at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship (April 18-19).
 
"It's rewarding to look back on the season and see the growth that this team had. There was not only growth physically, but the bond this team had was one that speaks for itself. This year we implemented our five team values: unity, humility, integrity, positivity, and intentionality. I think it's an accomplishment to say that our team excelled in all of those," Traub said.  
 
Throughout the spring the Cats showed continuous success by earning eight medals, four from the SIRA Championship, and 24 winning performances, including two over in-state rival Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown (May 3). The 1v4+ with Schmalz, Harman, Koller, Hall and Cunningham won seven races together, aiding the three All-Big 12 selections.
 
"I think the next few years are exciting to think about. We have 14 seniors leaving, so it opens up new possibilities for the team to build and grow. With Coach Kenn [Kennedy Felice] taking over, I'm excited to see the development of the program and I'm so proud that I get to be part of that," Miller said.
 
"Ending my time as a K-State rower is bittersweet. K-State row was the best thing that has ever happened [to me] and I'm so grateful for the opportunities and family it gave me. I am so excited to see where this team will go, especially under the leadership of new head coach, Kennedy Felice! I think she will bring so much to the program and the boats will only get stronger and faster," Traub said.
 
The Big 12 Championship was the last race with head coach Patrick Sweeney at the helm as he announced the same afternoon his plans to retire after leading the Wildcats for 22 years. In his place, five-year assistant coach Kennedy Felice was elevated to head coach.
 
"This was a great way to wrap up my career as head coach here at K-State. I want to say thank you to team and the people who make all of this possible," Sweeney said. "A big thank you to our families and supporters. They give so much to our program, and we appreciate everyone who is a part of our rowing family.
 
"It has been fun building up this program and working with each of the athletes that have been on the team. It's time for a new chapter with K-State Rowing. I look forward to seeing how this program continues to move forward and provide opportunities for American athletes," Sweeney added. "Thank you again to K-State, my staff, our athletes and everyone who has been a part of my time here."
 
Big 12 Championship
Nathan Benderson Park
Sarasota, Fla.
 
Team Scores
1. UCF, 84 points
2. Tulsa, 65 points
3. Kansas, 52 points
4. K-State, 49 points
5. Old Dominion, 24 points
6. West Virginia, 19 points
 
Third Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 7:00.14, 2. Kansas; 7:15.84, 3. K-State; 7:17.59, 4. Tulsa; 7:49.78, 5. West Virginia; 7:58.00
 
Second Varsity 4+
1. UCF; 7:33.98, 2. K-State; 7:47.86, 3. Tulsa; 7:51.79, 4. Kansas; 7:52.90, 5. Old Dominion; 8:11.19, 6. West Virginia; 8:15.09
 
First Varsity 4+
1. UCF; 7:22.23, 2. K-State; 7:29.29, 3. Tulsa; 7:51.77, 4. Old Dominion; 7:57.12, 5. Kansas; 8:05.44, 6. West Virginia; 8:08.04
 
Second Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 6:35.96, 2. Tulsa; 6:51.95, 3. Kansas; 6:55.10, 4. K-State; 6:57.19, 5. West Virginia; 7:08.76, 6. Old Dominion; 7:22.95
 
First Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 6:22.08, 2. Tulsa; 6:38.86, 3. Kansas; 6:47.50, 4. K-State; 6:52.46, 5. Old Dominion; 6:57.60, 6. West Virginia; 6:59.68
 
K-State lineups:
3v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Mia Starnes, Stroke: Karlee Horyna, 7. Bianca Wollmeister, 6. Bryn Pawlik, 5. Delaney Goshorn, 4. Kendall Lane, 3. Annika Janss, 2. Abby Farr, 1. Lacy Miller
 
2v4+ lineup:
Coxswain: Kennedy Loyd, Stroke: Ellie Erwin, 3. Halle Fee, 2. Makenzie Storm, 1. Lorelei Harris
 
1v4+ lineup:
Coxswain: Kiersten Schmalz, Stroke: Rachel Harman, 3. Madison Koller, 2. Grace Hall, 1. Sylvia Cunningham
 
2v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Leah Roane, Stroke: Jayden Brandt, 7. Kay Pakkebier, 6. Gracyn McClain, 5. Emma Johnson, 4. Anna Guhr, 3. Harmony Leiker, 2. Regan Reker, 1. Izzy Ross
 
1v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Regan Ahlers, Stroke: Kyla Traub, 7. Sienna Pargiter-Walker, 6. Symone Simmons, 5. Madelyn Barrett, 4. Ava Werner, 3. Madelyn Navrkal, 2. Kiersten Playter, 1. Grace Hendrickson
 
 
-- k-statesports.com --
 
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 X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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