SARASOTA, Fla. – UCF wrapped up day one of the Big Ten Invitational Friday afternoon in its second trip to Nathan Benderson Park this season. The Knights faced several opponents ranked in the latest Pocock Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Top 20 Poll.
Morning Session
The Knights I Eight finished fourth ahead of SMU, crossing the finish line with a time of 6:37.512. The boat consisting of Julia Going, Ines Martin, Seyene Oord, Brigitte Kappler, Tegan Fookes, Hannah Lovejoy, Aryann Johnson, Liza Lutter and Connery Cassidy finished behind fellow Big 12 affiliate member No. 15 Tennessee (6:15.619), No. 9 Michigan (6:23.720) and No. 13 Rutgers (6:24.537). The Mustangs finished behind the Knights with a time of 6:45.571.
The II Eight also finished fourth and ahead of SMU’s time of 6:54.313. The boat consisting of Mackenzie Harrod, Natasjia Voulanas, Coralie Detre, Maja Misljenovic, Veronica Rush, Aubrie Russo, Charlotte Wiley, Bella Montalvo and Martina Pischedda posted a time of 6:44.546 and finished behind the Volunteers (6:20.598), Wolverines (6:32.958) and the Scarlet Knights (6:34.088).
UCF took fourth in its heat for the I Four race with a time of 7:17.940, finishing just two seconds shy of third-place Rutgers (7:15.132). Michigan took first (7.08.204) followed by Tennessee (7:12.475). The boat coxed by Audrey Vilendrer and consisting of Annberlee Hothem, Mal Thorsen, Amber Tulloch and Claire Kaminski finished before SMU’s posted time of 7:34.924.
The II Four finished fourth in its race behind Tennessee (7:14.667), Michigan (7:20.191) and Rutgers (7:39.881) with a time of 7:39.881. The boat consisted of Sophie Tursi, Meagan Lukavec, Izzy Bate, Melody Summers and Makayla Baxley.
Afternoon Session
After an intermission in racing, the Knights II Four started the afternoon session with a fifth-place time of 8:02.320 behind No. 5 Brown (7:29.534), Rutgers (7:42.399), Big 12 affiliate member Alabama (7:43.959) and Minnesota (7:51.782). Bailey White moved into the Knights’ II Four as the stroke seat for the race.
The I Four finished fourth, crossing the finish line at 7:36.520. Izzy Bate moved up from the II Four and into the bow seat of the I Four, finishing behind Brown (7:14.483), Rutgers (7:28.003), Alabama (7:32.005) and ahead of Minnesota (7:45.983).
The UCF II Eight followed, posting a time of 6:51.715 to take fourth ahead of Minnesota (7:00.220), and behind Brown (6:34.464), Rutgers (6:44.135) and Alabama (6:49.138). Claire Kaminski jumped from the I Four in the third seat of the II Eight for the race.
The Knights finished the day with a fifth-place finish of 6:51.339 in the I Eight. UCF finished behind Brown (6:29.563), Rutgers (6:34.304), Minnesota (6:42.604) and Alabama (6:44.818). Hannah Lovejoy moved to the boat’s fifth seat and Charlotte Wiley moved from the II Eight to the third seat of the I Eight.
The Knights will face Wisconsin, Alabama, Iowa and Notre Dame on the final day of racing in Sarasota. The II Four will start the day at 9:20 a.m. followed by the I Four at 9:30 a.m., the II Eight at 9:40 a.m. and the I Eight at 9:50 a.m.