DES MOINES, Iowa – Six student-athletes have joined the Drake rowing team, head coach Charlie DiSilvestro announced on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Kayla Caldwell (St. Charles, Ill.), Madeline Killian (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Sarah Konopacki (Batavia, Ill.), Liz Long (Dayton, Ohio), Madison Peterson (River Forest, Ill.) and Taylor Schaben (Portsmouth, Iowa) are the newest Bulldogs as the team prepares for its first race, The Head of the Des Moines Regatta, on Sept. 26.
Caldwell, from St. Charles East High School, was a member of the second varsity 4 boat from the Saint Charles Rowing Club that took second place at the 2015 Midwest Junior Rowing Championship last spring.
“Kayla comes from the Saint Charles, which is a new club,” DiSilvestro said. “As a young rower I really respected how quickly she caught on to the sport and the contributions she provided to her club team's 4 boat. Getting to know her and her family for the past year I felt she would make our rowing family stronger and we would make her rowing experience better.”
Killian was a multi-sport athlete at Convent of the Visitation School in the Twin Cities, where she participated in swimming and basketball. She earned three letters in basketball while also rowing for three years.
“Madeline comes from the Minnesota Boat Club, which has a strong tradition of producing great high school rowers who transition well to college rowers,” DiSilvestro said. “Madeline's improvement through her senior year showed us she was someone we really wanted for our team.”
Konopacki, from Batavia High School, was teammates with Caldwell on the Saint Charles Rowing Club and was on the same boat that placed second at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championship.
“Sarah also comes from the Saint Charles club, and she quickly stood out during recruiting as a good fit for our program not only athletically, but personally,” DiSilvestro said. “Watching her develop from her junior year to her senior year I was impressed with her abilities and talents she can bring to our team.”
Long, from Vandalia Butler High School, played one season of soccer for the Aviators before transitioning to rowing, which she competed in for three seasons.
“Liz comes from the Greater Dayton Rowing Association, and Dayton has produced amazing rowers and we were fortunate to get one of Liz's caliber,” DiSilvestro said. “Her club coaches always train their athletes very well so that makes the transition from high school to college rowing easier. Liz's personality is a great fit for our rowing family.”
Peterson is from Oak Park & River Forest High School, and she competed for the prestigious Chicago Rowing Foundation. She was a member of the club's varsity lightweight 8 boat that finished 11th and seventh, respectively, at the 2014 & 2015 Youth National Rowing Championships.
“Madison comes from an outstanding club in Chicago,” DiSilvestro said. “Having watched her race her senior year in the lightweight boat I could see someone who would transition into a very strong Division One rower. Anytime you can get a rower from the Chicago Rowing Foundation it's going to make your team a better program.”
Rounding out the class is Schaben, who transferred to Drake from Missouri Western State University, where she played two seasons of softball for the Griffons. Schaben had a decorated softball career at Harlan High School earning multiple first team all-area, all-district and all-state honors, and was named the 2013 All-Area Player of the Year.
“Taylor is a transfer and a former softball player from Missouri Western State who came as part of our learn-to-row program,” DiSilvestro said. “Her past athletic background is going to benefit her in our sport and the maturity she brings to our walk-on class is going to be a huge benefit.”
