2012 FALL RECAP
After 10 weeks of grueling practices on the water, the 2012 KU rowing fall season came to a close in November. The varsity and novice teams combined for 74 practices over the 10-week period. KU also participated in two competitions and a scrimmage during the fall season. The team features 38 varsity athletes and 26 novice rowers. The first competition was the Head of the Oklahoma, which took place Sept. 29-30 in Oklahoma City. KU brought home 13 top-10 finishes including fifth in the Grand Final of the Varsity Eight. Being more successful in the Eight was a focus for head coach Rob Catloth. ”We need to get better and get more points in the Eight,” Catloth said. “We have had a couple successful novice groups and now they are mature and we need to step up and work our way to the top of our conference.” The team traveled to Tulsa, Okla. for a scrimmage against the Golden Hurricane, Oct. 19-20. Every varsity boat improved on its times from The Head of the Oklahoma. The scrimmage against Tulsa also provided the first competition for the novice squad. Catloth was enthused about the performance of his team. “Our top boat rowed really, really well and our second boat had a really good race,” Catloth said. “Across the board everyone improved and upped the level of their performance. It was the novice’s first row against another University and I hope by being successful it gives them more encouragement to continue to improve and learn the sport better.” The fall season concluded for the Jayhawks at The Head of the Hooch, Nov. 3-4. Held in Chattanooga, Tenn., The Head of the Hooch is the second-largest regatta in the country as it features over 1,600 boats. On day one the Novice Eight boats finished fourth and 11th in an event that showcased over 50 teams. KU’s top Varsity Eight boat finished ninth. “We had improved finishes from last year in all of the events; some of the best results we have had,” Catloth said. “We improved our boat speed and we are racing with more skill and maturity. We were fifth last year in the novice and that set the tone for those guys having a good year.” Through the winter, the rowing team will continue to work on strength and endurance with off-the-water practices until the student-athletes return to the water in the spring. Some members of the team will be chosen to travel to Florida to train over winter break. “When they go home it’s important they continue staying in shape so that we are not starting over when the team gets back from break,” Catloth said. “There is some ownership and responsibility for them to stay in shape when they are home. We just have to be ready to go as hard as we can and race really smart during the spring. We have been using the fall for those things and we want to sustain that through the spring.”
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