Wichita State University men’s varsity and novice eight took first place in their races to help put the team over Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa, St. Thomas and the University of Kansas in Omaha, Neb., Sunday April 19, at the Upper Midwest Collegiate Rowing Sprints.

The men’s eight of coxswain Alfredo Ortiz, rowers Jimmy Sharp, Malcolm Johnson, Clint Simmons, Peter Fast, Sam Smith, Paul Houston, Brandon Manuel, and Allen Strickler started the day for WSU with an easy win in their heat.

The rowers then raced in several other events before finishing the day with a three-boat-length win of 4:28.

The second-place boat, Iowa, finished 17.6 seconds behind WSU and .2 seconds in front of third-place KSU.

The women’s team brought home their first medals of the season with a third-place win in the women’s varsity four, and the women’s eight placed out of their heat to go to the grand final where they finished sixth.