The Iowa rowing team announced its 2011-12 cocaptains on Wednesday, three days before the season’s first race.

The team will be led by three seniors — Kendra Klaczak, Molly Pollpeter, and Sarah Radke — and junior Katy Kroll.

Klaczak competed in two fall events during the 2010-11 season, and qualified for the petite final in the 1 Varsity 4+ at last year’s Head of the Oklahoma. Klaczak, from Frankfort, Ill., was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten team last season.

Pollpeter was named second-team All-Big Ten last season and competed in one fall event; the native of Marshalltown, Iowa, placed second in the 1 Varsity 8+ at the Head of the Iowa.

Radke, from Aurelia, Iowa, competed in two fall events during the 2010-11 season. She logged two first-place finishes at the Big Ten Duals and at the East Coast Race.

All three seniors were named to the Academic All-Big Ten team last year.

Kroll, the youngest of the four captains at 20 years old, competed in all eight events for the Hawkeyes last year. The native of Waterford, Wis., placed first in two 1 Varsity 8+ races at the Longhorn Invitational and finished second in the 1 Varsity 8+ at the Head of the Iowa.

With three scheduled events this fall season and the first — the Head of the Oklahoma in Oklahoma City — just days away, head coach Mandi Kowal said she’s optimistic about her newly declared captains and the team as a whole.

"I’m looking forward to working with this year’s group of captains," Kowal said in a release. "I think they are a good balance and all have key strengths to lead the team. I know they’re all passionate about leading the team and making this year’s group fast."

— by Conrad Swanson