Kansas University rowers will look to build off a season that produced wins over Texas and Kansas State – the only other Big 12 universities that field rowing teams.
The Jayhawks’ First Varsity Eight Final “C” squad defeated the Longhorns on May 13-14 in the NCAA South-Central Regional at Oak Ridge, Tenn. The last time Kansas defeated Texas was in Lawrence at the Big 12 Invitational on May 3, 2003.
Kansas also won the Sunflower Showdown, 14-10, against Kansas State in Manhattan.
KU coach Rob Catloth said there was a greater significance than simply winning on that day.
“That race was originally more set up to get the new women in the program to experience a 2,000-meter race,” Catloth said.
That happened almost three months after Catloth finalized the roster. He said he would hold walk-on tryouts again this year in August, after school starts, meaning the roster of 65-70 women isn’t finalized.
Construction plans for a new boathouse have not been finalized, either. KU students voted on a resolution last April to build the structure, increasing KU student fees for women’s and non-revenue sports to $40 per semester. Boats are currently stored at Burcham Park.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said the boathouse won’t be ready in time for next season. It’s more of a long-term project.
The most significant races for the rowing team usually take place in the spring. Catloth said the South-Central Regional would probably be the most important event in 2007.
