April 17, 2005
OAKRIDGE, Tenn. - Paced by second place finishes from the Varsity and Novice Eight boats, the UCF women's rowing team took the overall points trophy at the 2005 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships on Sunday at Melton Hill Lake.
Posting a time of 6:54.3, the Varsity Eight, which featured Caitlin Pauls, Kyla Smith, Tanya Kleisler, Melissa Westhoff, Amy Price, Krystina Sarff, Katherine Motes, Mary Rosser and coxswain Lisa Beltran, took second in its final behind Louisville. The Knights beat last year's event champion Kansas State.
In the Novice Eight, the crew of Kayla Reiff, Jessica Lorne, Laurel Elmore, Erin Riegel, Vanessa Santana, Megan Kranz, Katrina Gavette, Katie Fulton and cox Jennifer Brooks also placed second at 7:21.0. Tennessee earned top honors in the event with a time of 7:16.5.
The Knights also grabbed fourth in the Junior Varsity Eight and fifth in the Varsity Four. The Varsity Lightweight eight took second to Dayton in its race.
The Novice Lightweight of Jenna Minter, Heather Hichborn, Laura Bacci, Kelly Verrando, Ashley Hamon, Natalie Schneider, Lauren Kelley, Anne Marie Rossi and cox Marcia Kielar claimed the gold medal in the Second Novice Eight, finishing eight seconds ahead of Tennessee. UCF's Second Novice Eight was third in the event.
The Golden Knights have nearly a month layoff before competing in the Dad Vail Regatta from May 13-14 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Varsity Eight
1. Louisville, 6:49.4
2. UCF, 6:54.3
3. Purdue, 6:59.3
4. UNC, 7:02.9
5. Kansas State, 7:03.7
6. Southern Methodist, 7:07.5
Varsity Lightweight Eight
1. Dayton, 7:07.80
2. UCF, 7:10.25
Junior Varsity Eight
1. UNC, 7:10.4
2. Louisville, 712.1
3. Kansas State, 7:16.3
4. UCF, 7:21.3
5. Purdue, 7:24.8
6. Dayton, 7:36.1
7. G. Mason, 7:46.6
Varsity Four
1. Louisville, 7:58.5
2. Murray State, 8:07.3
3. Georgia, 8:09.2
4. William & Mary, 8:23.9
5. UCF, 8:25.3
6. Emory 8:43.1
Novice Eight
1. Tennessee, 7:16.5
2. UCF, 7:21.0
3. Michigan State, 7:25.5
4. Purdue, 7:28.5
5. Jacksonville, 7:36.9
6. Tulsa, 7:48.0
Second Novice Eight 1. UCF Novice Lightweight, 7:21.40
2. Tennessee, 7:29.13
3. UCF, 7:32.0
4. Purdue, 7:46.26
5. Dayton, 7:49.05
6. Texas, 8:16.61