Rowing Finishes 2026 Season in Big 12 Championship with a Bronze Medal

Sunday, May 17

Sarasota, Fla.

Kansas State University

Big 12 Championship

Rowing Finishes 2026 Season in Big 12 Championship with a Bronze Medal

May 24, 2026 | Rowing

Results (.pdf)

In the postseason, the 1v4+ boat earned at bronze medal at the conference championship

SARASOTA, Fla. – The K-State women's rowing team finished the 2026 season in the Big 12 Championship on Sunday (May 17) earning one bronze medal in a 6^th place team finish at Nathan Benderson Park.

"This year was a big year for us, navigating a lot of transition, battling a lack of water time, and building up a young team," head coach Kennedy Felice said. "I'm proud of everything this group accomplished. We have a great group of athletes; they are gritty and did everything they could to help push our program forward.

"We always tell the team that a medal for one boat is a medal for the whole team. We learned a lot as a team, and we're excited to see what we can accomplish going forward."

In the first season under Felice, the Wildcats finished in 6^th place after five races with 20 points. UCF claimed the Big 12 title for a consecutive season with 81 points. After the championship, junior Regan Reker was named to the All-Big 12 Team.

"I'm honored to have wrapped up the season with Big 12 honors which just motivated me to keep pushing the training over the summer," Reker said. "We might not have had the overall outcome we wanted as a team, but I'm incredibly proud of every single girl. When one boat medals on our team we all do. So not only is this a major accomplishment for my boat it's an accomplishment for the whole team."

The 1v4+ had the highest finish of the day with a bronze medal time of 7:26.59, with a lineup of senior coxswain Kiersten Schmalz, seniors Grace Hall and Sylvia Cunnningham and juniors Regan Reker and Izzy Ross.

"Overall, this weekend was a highlight in my career," Hall said. "Our boat has had a couple months together and we got to make the most of this time and bond and laugh and soak up the last moments together. The biggest takeaway from this competition is that the setbacks and challenges make you stronger and give you a fire to pursue the biggest goals you can set."

"Our race was ecstatic right from the jump. We had a phenomenal start and walked through two boats before the 500," Cunningham added. "We held strong through the rest of the race making pushes at the 1000 and out finish to set us up for a medal in the end."

The next highest finish was the 2v4+ in 4^th place with a time of 7:39.12. That boat consisted of junior coxswain Regan Ahlers, senior Ellie Erwin, junior Kiersten Playter and sophomores Karlee Horyna and Annika Janss.

"I'm really grateful for a team that will support each other and cheer each other on despite what the final outcome might look like," Schmalz said. "I am so hopeful for the future of our young team. We have so much room to continue to grow next year and to push to greater limits in the years to come."

The 3v8+ finished with a time of 7:14.38, competing with a lineup consisting of freshman coxswain Ally Exline, freshman Taylin Harthun, juniors Emily Northcutt and Lorelei Harris and freshmen Abby Theiss, Alexis Brandkamp, Mary Jane Britz, Jocelyn Lincoln and Gabbie Forsythe.

"These girls are the ones pushing me to be better every day, so when one person succeeds, we all do," Reker added. "I'm feeling sentimental wrapping up the season, this group of seniors means a lot to me and I'm excited to see what they do in their next chapters.

"Our captains Lorelei and Ava did a great job of focusing on team unity, cohesiveness, and positivity this year. I think that really made a difference in how we were able to push each other."

The 2v8+ crossed the finish line at 7:03.74, with a lineup of junior coxswain Leah Roane, freshmen Kendall Huber and Hanah Thul, junior Madelyn Navrkal, sophomores Delaney Goshorn, Kendall Lane, Bailey Williamson and Abby Farr and senior Ava Werner.

"My biggest takeaway from the competition this weekend is that our team has grit," Ross said. "I am proud of the team for how we have faced adversity this year, especially being such a young team, but I'm more excited to see what we produce next year."

The 1v8+ clocked a time of 7:19.18 with a boat consisting of sophomore coxswain Mia Starnes, sophomore Lacy Miller, freshmen Brie Smith, Isabelle Peabody, Fiona Gallagher, Lauren Schmidt, Erica Ward, Brookelyn Vande Loo and Ava Eeg.

"I couldn't have asked for a better team, these girls are my family," Hall added. "They see you through the highs and the lows day in and day out. I love them dearly and will be cheering for them as they continue to fight for more medals in the following years."

The 2026 spring season brought success with three medals, including a gold for the 3v8+ and silver medals for the 1v4+ and 2v4+ during the SIRA Championship (April 18-19), a strong weekend for the first race of the season at the Hornet Invitational (March 14-15) and four dominating performances in the Creighton Duel (April 30).

"I want to say a big thank you to my athletes, my staff, and everyone who makes what we do possible," Felice added. "Two things can be true at once, our team finish at Big 12s wasn't where we wanted to be, but the future of our program is headed in a solid direction.

"We're proud of our seniors and everyone who is graduating. They gave their all for the team and we're excited to see where they go in this next chapter of life. Each of the athletes returning to the team next year are committed to reaching that next level. We made it through the year and we're ready to take that next step."

Big 12 Championship
Nathan Benderson Park
Sarasota, Fla.

Team Scores
1. UCF; 81 points, 2. Kansas; 61 points, 3. Tulsa; 53 points, 4. West Virginia; 36 points, 5. Old Dominion; 26 points, 6. K-State; 20 points

Third Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 6:41.05, 2. Kansas; 6:47.05, 3. Tulsa; 7:02.10, 4. West Virginia; 7:05.36, 5. K-State; 7:14.38

Second Varsity 4+
1. UCF; 7:19.52, 2. Kansas; 7:32.84, 3. West Virginia; 7:33.96, 4. K-State; 7:39.12

First Varsity 4+
1. UCF; 7:10.09, 2. Kansas; 7:24.33, 3. K-State; 7:26.59, 4. West Virginia; 7:42.43, 5. Tulsa; 7:50.53, 6. Old Dominion; 7:58.35

Second Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 6:31.84, 2. Kansas; 6:42.58, 3. Tulsa; 6:44.14, 4. Old Dominion; 6:57.48,
5. West Virginia; 6:59.76, 6. K-State; 7:03.74

First Varsity 8+
1. UCF; 6:16.46, 2. Tulsa; 6:29.29, 3. Kansas; 6:38.52, 4. West Virginia; 6:42.55, 5. Old Dominion; 6:42.91, 6. K-State; 7:19.18

K-State lineups
3v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Ally Exline, Stroke: Taylin Harthun, 7. Emily Northcutt, 6. Lorelei Harris, 5. Abby Theiss, 4. Alexis Brandkamp, 3. Mary Jane Britz, 2. Jocelyn Lincoln, 1. Gabbie Forsythe

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

1v4+ lineup:
Coxswain: Kiersten Schmalz, Stroke: Grace Hall, 3. Sylvia Cunnningham, 2. Regan Reker, 1. Izzy Ross

2v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Leah Roane, Stroke: Kendall Huber, 7. Hanah Thul, 6. Madelyn Navrkal, 5. Delaney Goshorn, 4. Kendall Lane, 3. Bailey Williamson, 2. Abby Farr, 1. Ava Werner

1v8+ lineup:
Coxswain: Mia Starnes, Stroke: Lacy Miller, 7. Brie Smith, 6. Isabelle Peabody, 5. Fiona Gallagher, 4. Lauren Schmidt, 3. Erica Ward, 2. Brookelyn Vande Loo, 1. Ava Eeg

-- 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.