Kansas University’s rowing team is pointing toward another solid season next spring despite losing some talented performers.

Key losses were Erin Hennessey, Kristy Hainer and Crystal Reed.

“Erin, Kristy and Crystal will be big losses for us,” KU coach Rob Catloth said, “but I think the team will do fine.”

The Jayhawks went through periods of highs and lows last season. One of the highs occurred when the Jayhawks dueled Texas in Austin and nearly knocked off the nation’s 15th-ranked team.

“That is always an exciting and positive thing,” Catloth said.

There were disappointments, however, as the Jayhawks lost both the Sunflower Showdown and the Kansas Cup to Kansas State.

“We would like to get a little better and faster, inch a little closer to Texas, and, of course, we want to beat K-State,” Catloth said.

Among the top returnees are seniors Alexis Boston and Gillian Van Ruyven, both of St. Catherines, Ontario; Jennifer Ebel of Southlake, Texas; and Kris Lazar of Mulvane.

Among the other returning rowers are junior Jelayna Da Silva of St. Catherines, Ontario; and sophomores Dyana Lawrence of Lawrence High and Kara Boston of Shabbona, Ill.

The Jayhawks will begin their winter training during the first week of October in Oklahoma City. Then they’ll open the season at the end of October at the Head of Iowa in Iowa City.

“Obviously, the biggest matches of the year will be the Big 12 and regionals, but we need to use the matches in the fall and early spring to really get ready for them,” Catloth said.

The Jayhawks will train and hold home matches this fall at Clinton Lake. When spring comes around, they’ll race on the Kansas River at Burcham Park.