University of Iowa Athletics
Kelsey Kannenberg - Women's Rowing - University of Iowa Athletics

Kelsey Kannenberg

Class Fr.
Hometown Spirit Lake, Iowa
High School Spirit Lake

Before Iowa… Two-time Iowa softball All-State Second-Team selection… two-time All-District selection… three-time 3AA Big South Conference First Team selection… two-time IA Lakes All-Conference First-Team unanimous selection… three-time Jackson County Central Schools Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Offensive Player… 2015 Big South Conference Champion, 2016 Big South Conference Runner-ups, 2017 Lakes Conference Champions (4th consecutive), 2018 Lakes Conference Champions (5th consecutive)… 2017 season stats: 10 home runs, 59 RBIs… won the 2018 Class 3A Regional Finals vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 3-2, clinching state tournament berth… holds record for 2014: Jackson County Central School Records in a Single Season: All Time Batting leader – .526 Batting Average, Most Games Pitched, Most Strikeouts, Most Innings Pitched… 2015: Jackson County Central School Records in a Single Season: Most Strikeouts, Most Innings Pitched, Most Wins… 2017: Tied for 5th most home runs in Class 3A (10)… 2016 MN State High School League superior state selection band… 2017 Musical Superior Division 1 in small group/ small ensemble festival…  2017 Division 1 state show choir participant… member of the 2017-2018 Key Club Leadership Team… recipient of the 2018 Student of Service Award… 2016-2018 NHSS National High School Scholar Society member… 2017 & 2018 National Honor Society Member… 2018 Graduate with honors in both service & academics…

Personal… Born February 15, 2000… daughter of Kyle and Mary Kannenberg… human physiology, pre-medicine major.

Why Iowa… Growing up in Iowa, I am a die-hard Hawkeye fan through and through. I chose Iowa because of it’s amazing opportunity to pursue both an athletic and academic career at one of the country’s top universities while staying relatively close to home.

My favorite aspect of rowing is… Rowing is so unique in its emphasis on absolute teamwork and the continuous striving for a better time, both racing against yourself and the clock. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and I love it.

What made you want to become a rower… I was recruited to row after attending a couple “learn-to-row” camps. My mom was the one to convince me to try it out. I was tentative given I’d never done it before, but it’s so much fun to be a part of a team where you’re always striving to work together.