Wildcats defeat Jayhawks in weekend regatta
Kansas State wins their third straight Kansas Cup
Despite suffering a loss to Kansas State on a chilly weekend, coach Rob Catloth said his team showed strength, especially in novice teams.
By Ben Ashworth (Contact)
Monday, April 14th, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The conditions were unpleasant. The temperature was teetering in the thirties and sleet was falling from the sky. The Kansas rowers splashed their oars through the frigid lake, soaking them from head to foot. Coach Rob Catloth, however, seemed less than sympathetic.
“You think it was cold out there today?” he asked the crowd after the regatta. “It was 14 degrees at this event last year.”
Despite the temperature and precipitation, the meet went on as scheduled between the Kansas and Kansas State rowing teams and ultimately ended in a 13-8 victory by the Kansas State Wildcats. The victory made the Wildcats the winners of the annual Kansas Cup, held this year at Wyandotte County Lake in northern Kansas City.
The regatta began with close to dominating performances by Kansas’ two novice teams. The Novice Four team won by the largest margin of the day, surpassing the Wildcat rowers by about 28 seconds. The Novice Eight A Team had the fastest time of any of the boats, varsity included, coming up with an impressive time of 7:12.8.
“We have a very solid group of novice rowers,” Catloth said.
The novice teams are comprised of freshmen and sophomores, most of whom never rowed in high school and were recruited to row when they arrived at the University. Many of the rowers on the novice teams will compete for open spots on the varsity teams, which will have at least four openings after the graduation of seniors Kara Boston, Alia Bober, Hailee Jones and Elisheva Patterson. Because it was Senior Day, the four were honored after the match by Catloth, their parents and the crowd.
The two varsity teams did not fare as well as the novice teams. The First Varsity Eight team fell by a time of 6.7 seconds, and the Second Varsity Eight team was bested by only 4.0.
“Kansas State was more race-savvy than we were,” Catloth said. “Hopefully that will change when we get more races under our belt.”
Catloth also believed that Kansas State’s varsity teams came out with more intensity.
Kansas State’s two victories were worth eight and five points, respectively, comprising its winning 13 point total. Kansas received its eight points from the Novice Four’s three-point victory and the Novice Eight’s five-point victory. This is the third time in the previous four years that Kansas State has won the Kansas Cup. However, with a more experienced team next year, Catloth hopes he can change that.
The team will try to gain some confidence next weekend in Tennessee, competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships. This regatta will act as preparation for the South-Central Regionals which will take place in mid-May on the same waters.
—Edited by Sasha Roe
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