Rowing team secures Kansas Cup at Wyandotte

After dropping the first two races, the K-State rowing team came back in the final two events to beat the University of Kansas, 13-6, on Saturday morning at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan., to recapture the Kansas Cup and complete a season sweep of their rivals.

"It's always satisfying to beat them," said K-State head coach Patrick Sweeney. "At the end of it though, it's just on to the next one."

The first two races of the morning were worth three points each and gave the Jayhawks the early 6-0 lead. KU defeated K-State in the 1st Novice 8 race by the slimmest of margins, 7:00.2 to 7:01.0. Then, in the 1st Varsity 4 competition, the Jayhawks beat K-State with a time of 7:38.4, which was nine seconds faster than the Wildcats.

"With the Novice boat it was a little bit frustrating, because they made some mistakes that cost them," Sweeney said. "They'd get out in front, then they'd make technical mistakes and KU would be back on them. As for the 1st Varsity 4, they rowed really well until about the 750-meter mark, but then they let it go, and KU slipped them and it was night-night."

The Wildcats dominated the Jayhawks in both Varsity 8 races. In the 2nd Varsity 8 race, which was worth five points, K-State posted a time of 6:55.2 in contrast to KU's 7:00.5.

"They took the whole thing, bit between their teeth and blew off at the start," Sweeney said. "The race was over by the 500-meter mark. They had a substantial lead and they rowed probably the best they've rowed all year."

K-State also claimed the eight points in the 1st Varsity 8 race to secure the Kansas Cup. The Jayhawks took an early lead on the Wildcats, but the K-State crew pushed back and beat KU by more than 10 seconds with a time of 6:42.7.

"I said to the crew before the race that ‘KU is going to throw everything at you because I think you're a better crew,'" Sweeney said. "KU really went for it at the start but they paid for it, because our girls got into a rhythm and took the lead by the halfway mark. Our girls just pushed through it and ended up beating them."

The mood around the K-State crew was very jovial following their win. After the races, the girls on the team formed a tunnel for Sweeney to run through. Despite many doubters on the team, he ran through the tunnel to join in with his team.

"I normally try to keep a low profile because it's about the athletes," Sweeney said. "It was their day to celebrate. The girls got into it so I joined in, but I tend to try not to do it."

With the win, K-State tied the Jayhawks with seven Kansas Cup wins each. Following the celebration and trophy presentation, the parents of the Wildcat crew hosted a barbecue for the team and their families.

"It was nice for the girls to see the support of the friends and family and fans that actually came out to the race," Sweeney said. "They got to see their support there and it was really nice afterwards to relax."

The crew is now gearing up for the Big 12 Championships this weekend, which will be hosted by KU.