The Basics
The 2026 season for Drake rowing is set to begin this weekend as the Bulldogs will partake in the Head of the Des Moines race on Saturday, Sep. 26. The Bulldogs will be on home waters to start the season with a 2.1km head-race course on Easter Lake.
 
Coach Dawson Shyne-Appignani on the Season Outlook
"With a young team full of potential and a new coaching staff for the first time in decades, this fall season for Drake Women's Rowing will be all about gaining valuable experience competing within our region and finding out who we are when the flag drops on race day. Our women are hungry to raise the bar from previous performances at the Head of the Des Moines and Head of the Mississippi and continue pushing for improvements to prepare for spring racing at our Metro Conference Championships in May."

Coach Shyne-Appignani on the Head of the Des Moines
"We are looking forward to our first opportunity to throw down this season on a shorter course compared to past years. Our novices will be competing in their first collegiate race against a variety of competitive club eights that'll push them to show off their progress over the past month. Varsity will spend the morning breaking into fours to compete internally while practicing their adaptability in different line-ups between both flights of racing. We are looking forward to seeing the progress from the start of the semester for the entire team."

Competing Teams
Des Moines Rowing Club
Kansas State Rowing Association
Michigan Tech Rowing Club
Minneapolis Rowing Club
Nebraska-Lincoln Crew Club
Rochester Rowing Club
St. Thomas Crew Club

Schedule
Saturday, Sep. 26, 2026
8:00 am - Women's Collegiate Fours (Flight #1)
8:30 am - Mixed Novice Eights
9:30 am - Women's Collegiate Fours (Flight #2)