Rowing Finishes Second Spring Competition in Sarasota 2k

Friday, March 27

Sarasota, Fla.

Kansas State University

Sarasota 2k

Rowing Finishes Second Spring Competition in Sarasota 2k

Apr 01, 2026 | Rowing

The Wildcats prepare for the Sunflower Showdown next against in-state rival Kansas

BRADENTON, Fla. – The K-State women's rowing team competed in the second race of the season with four boats in the Sarasota 2k on March 27-28 at Nathan Benderson Park.

"This weekend was a learning opportunity for our team, we went against some solid competition and we know where we are at this time," head coach Kennedy Felice said. "It's still early in the season we have a lot of potential as a team and we know what we need to do to get to be where we want to be."

Racing was split into two sessions, with K-State competing in semifinals on Friday afternoon to determine which final session they qualify for on Saturday morning. The Cats competed against fellow Big 12 Conference schools Kansas, West Virginia, Tulsa and Old Dominion, as well as High Point, Jacksonville, Miami (Fla.) and Michigan State.

On Saturday two boats, the 3v8+ and 1v4+, raced in the Petite 'B' final. During the semifinals on Friday, the 1v4+, with a lineup of junior coxswain Regan Ahlers, senior Ellie Erwin, junior Kiersten Playter and sophomores Bryn Pawlik and Karlee Horyna, finished with a time of 7:41.31, ahead of in-state rivals Kansas. During the final race the boat finished with a time of 8:26.47.

"Our boat really surprised ourselves in our heat with how we held on with some of the faster crews," Erwin said. "This weekend showed us what we need to improve on going forward. I think everyone on the team is willing to work to get faster as the season goes on -this mentality makes me excited to see how much we improve."

The 3v8+ started racing on Friday with a semifinal finish of 7:40.78 and finished Saturday with a time of 7:44.15. They competed with a lineup of freshman coxswain Ally Exline and freshmen Taylin Harthun, Gabbie Forsythe, Alexis Brandkamp, Abby Theiss, Jocelyn Lincoln, Mary Jane Britz, Brooklyn Vande Loo and Eleanor Wehr.

"This weekend showed us how much harder we need to work in order to grow as a team in future," Erwin added. "Up next for our team is Sunflower Showdown against KU, we have a few weeks to work back at home to prepare and get our minds right before our next competition."

The 1v8+ finished Friday with a time of 7:02.93 to put them in the 'C' final. With a lineup of senior coxswain Kiersten Schmalz, seniors Grace Hall and Sylvia Cunningham, juniors Regan Reker and Izzy Ross, sophomore Kendall Lane, junior Harmony Leiker and sophomores Abby Farr and Delaney Goshorn, on Saturday morning the boat finished at 7:25.75 ahead of Big 12 contenders West Virginia.

"Heading into the rest of the season, I'm excited to see what our team can do," sophomore Annika Janss said. "Each boat is filled with great potential, and as we get more experience working with each other, I know that every boat has what it takes to see a successful season."

The 2v8+, with a lineup of junior coxswain Leah Roane, senior Lorelei Harris, Janss, junior Emily Northcutt, sophomore Bailey Williamson, junior Madelyn Navrkal and freshmen Erica Ward, Hanah Thul and Brie Smith, finished with a time of 7:14.34 on Friday before completing Saturday's final with a time of 7:37.95.

"This weekend was a great opportunity to feel out racing against highly competitive teams, including those we will see later on at Big 12s," Janss added. "Our biggest takeaway from this weekend was an understanding of both where we are and where we want to be.

K-State will compete next in the annual Sunflower Showdown on April 11 in Kansas City, Kan., at Wyandotte County Lake.

"Our goal is to keep moving forward as a team, and we know what we have what it takes to go faster across all boats," Felice said. "We have a young team but they want to work hard and we are excited to see what we can accomplish this season."

Sarasota 2k
Nathan Benderson Park
Bradenton, Fla.

Friday Afternoon
Third Varsity 8+
1. Dartmouth; 6:55.04, 2. Miami; 6:59.18, 3. Kansas; 7:03.96, 4. Michigan State; 7:13.77,
5. K-State; 7:40.78

First Varsity 4+
1. UNC; 7:29.16, 2. Miami; 7:33.75, 3. K-State; 7:41.31, 4. Kansas; 7:42.21, 5. Louisville; 7:47.59,
6. Old Dominion; 8:19.64

Second Varsity 8+
1. UNC; 6:38.87, 2. Miami; 6:42.22, 3. Louisville; 6:57.36, 4. Kansas; 6:58.30,
5. Old Dominion; 7:11.08, 6. K-State; 7:14.34

First Varsity 8+
1. Miami; 6:28.98, 2. UNC; 6:30.8, 3. Louisville; 6:42.60, 4. Kansas; 6:46.41, 5. K-State; 7:02.93,
6. Old Dominion; 7:04.20

Saturday Morning
Third Varsity 8+ (Petite 'B' Final)
1. Miami; 7:21.58, 2. Jacksonville; 7:27.62, 3. Michigan State; 7:33.15, 4. K-State; 7:44.15

First Varsity 4+ (Petite 'B' Final)
1. Kansas; 8:10.15, 2. UMass; 8:14.48, 3. Boston College; 8:17.40, 4. Jacksonville; 8:20.19,
5. Tulsa; 8:24.53, 6. K-State; 8:26.47

Second Varsity 8+ ('C' Final)
1. Jacksonville; 7:19.95, 2. Drexel; 7:26.81, 3. Old Dominion; 7:33.94, 4. Albany; 7:34.30,
5. West Virginia; 7:37.15, 6. K-State; 7:37.95, 7. High Point; 7:43.98

First Varsity 8+ ('C' Final)
1. Jacksonville; 7:13.19, 2. Albany; 7:20.32, 3. Drexel; 7:22.08, 4. Old Dominion; 7:23.50,
5. K-State; 7:25.75, 6. West Virginia; 7:27.71, 7. High Point; 7:29.85

K-State lineups
3v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Ally Exline, Stroke: Taylin Harthun, 7. Gabbie Forsythe, 6. Alexis Brandkamp, 5. Abby Theiss, 4. Jocelyn Lincoln, 3. Mary Jane Britz, 2. Brooklyn Vande Loo, 1. Eleanor Wehr

1v4+ lineup:
Coxswain: Regan Ahlers, Stroke: Ellie Erwin, 3. Kiersten Playter, 2. Bryn Pawlik, 1. Karlee Horyna

2v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Leah Roane, Stroke: Lorelei Harris, 7. Annika Janss, 6. Emily Northcutt, 5. Bailey Williamson, 4. Madelyn Navrkal, 3. Erica Ward, 2. Hanah Thul, 1. Brie Smith

1v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Kiersten Schmalz, Stroke: Grace Hall, 7. Sylvia Cunningham, 6. Regan Reker, 5. Izzy Ross, 4. Kendall Lane, 3. Harmony Leiker, 2. Abby Farr, 1. Delaney Goshorn

-- 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.