LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Drake University rowing team travels to the Jayhawk Jamboree hosted by the University of Kansas on Sunday morning. The fourth-annual regatta is held on the Kansas River at the Kansas Rowing Boathouse at Burcham Park on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. With the ever-growing popularity of the annual regatta, this year marks the largest showing of teams with 12, including 152 boats racing.
 
"This is a head race we circle on the calendar as a big race," said Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro. "This is always our fall race we've had the most training time for and the competition is a good mix and will be tough. The race course is one we are familiar with. We are still battling water levels here so we haven't been able to do traditional boat selections instead relying on coaches picks."
 
Among the competitors, include varsity and club crew teams from Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Central Oklahoma, Iowa, Creighton, Wichita State, Colorado, Grand Valley State and UMKC.
 
Drake will have several boats in each race that include a novice 8+, varsity 8+ and varsity 4+. The novice 8+ race starts the Bulldogs' day at 12:15 p.m. followed by the varsity 4+ race at 1 p.m. and the varsity 4+ at 3 p.m. Following the varsity 8+ race, there will be a 300-meter sprint race for the Top 12 finishers.
 
"We have trained hard the past few weeks since Head of the Rock," DiSilvestro said. "The team has handled the difficult water levels and non-traditional boat selections very well. I'm excited to see how we compete against a deep and talented field. We are familiar with everyone and know it will be a challenge."
 
Drake is set to close its fall season Nov. 5 when the Bulldogs host the Creighton Bluejays for the annual end-of-fall showdown.