ORLANDO – During the Easter weekend, the rowing team will head to Nathan Benderson Park for the Sunshine State Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
In its seventh Sunshine State Invitational appearance, UCF will co-host the regatta with the Jacksonville Dolphins. This will mark the Knights’ first of three trips to Nathan Benderson Park this season.
UCF will race in the first heat starting at 3:20 p.m. with the II Four leading the way. The Knights will have two boats on the water and will line up against future Big 12 affiliate member Old Dominion, Michigan State, Iowa and Jacksonville. UCF will be in lanes five and six.
Iowa is receiving votes in the latest Pocock Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Poll.
UCF will also race in the first heat in the I Four at 4 p.m., the II Eight at 5 p.m. and the I Eight at 5:20 p.m. in lane three. The Knights will go against Old Dominion, Kansas, Iowa, Louisville, North Carolina, UMass and Stetson.
Heats for the III Eight will be Friday afternoon with race times scheduled for 4:20 p.m. for heat one and 4:30 p.m. for heat two.
Based on the results of the Knights’ heat races, racing for the petite final Saturday will begin at 8:20 a.m. for the I Eight and the grand final will begin at 8:30 a.m. The II Eight petite final will race at 9 a.m. with a grand final start time of 9:10 a.m. The III Eight petite final will begin at 9:40 a.m. and the grand final will start at 9:50 a.m.
Starting the final day for the fours, the I Four petite final will start at 10:20 a.m. and the grand final will start 10 minutes later. Rounding out competition for the Knights, the II Four petite final will race at 10:40 a.m. and the grand final will begin at 10:50 a.m.
Last season, the Knights had a strong showing in Sarasota pulling in two top-three grand final finishes. The II Eight locked up a first-place finish in the grand final and the I Four finished third.
The Sunshine State Invite will stream exclusively on RHStv and live results will be available at firarowing.org/live-results.