April 8, 2005
ORLANDO - The UCF women's rowing team will use the momentum gained from a strong performance at the San Diego Crew Classic as it attempts to reclaim the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) Championship at Tampa's Bypass Canal on Saturday.
The Varsity Eight boat is coming off a convincing second place finish in San Diego. The Knights were ahead of eventual winner San Diego State, when the two crews locked oars. They had to settle for runner-up status but did defeat in-state rival Miami for the second time this spring. UCF will meet the Hurricanes again this weekend.
The Lightweight Eight also rowed well at the Crew Classic placing fourth in the grand final, while the Junior Varsity Eight was second in the third final.
Meanwhile, the novice crew and the fours have not raced since the Petrakis Cup on March 26.
The Golden Knights won the Shirley B. Negaard Trophy seven consecutive years before losing it to Miami in 2004.
The UCF Probable Lineups for the 2005 FIRA Championship are as follows:
Varsity Eight: Caitlin Pauls (stroke), Kyla Smith, Tanya Kleisler, Melissa Westhoff, Amy Price, Krystina Sarff, Katherine Motes, Mary Rosser, Lisa Beltran (cox).
Junior Varsity Eight: Maya Fluharty (stroke), Christine Richardville, Becky Meale, Kristin Roach, Cassandra Long, Brittney Kusner, Christy Collier, April Verpoorten, Heather Brooks (cox).
Varsity Lightweight Eight: Robin Capers (stroke), Laura Brad, Pamela Wall, Melissa Kroll, Lindsay Wood, Jennifer Frye, Nikki Jones, Megan Mitchell, Stephanie Mangone (cox).
Novice Lightweight Eight: Jenna Minter (stroke), Heather Hichborn, Laura Bacci, Kelly Verrando, Ashlee Hamon, Natalie Schneider, Lauren Kelly, Anne Marie Rossi, Marcie Kielar (cox).
Novice Eight: Kayla Reiff (stroke), Jessica Lorne, Laurel Elmore, Erin Riegel, Katrina Gavette, Megan Kranz, Eleni Roussos, Katie Fulton, Jenni Brooks (cox).
Junior Varsity Four: Janae Corrado (stroke), Lauren Rice, Erika Frantz, Katie Loftus, Heather Brooks (cox).
Second Novice Eight: Vanessa Santana (stroke), Amanda Mergo, Kaley Johnson, Jill Cook, Allyse Cruz, Alexis D'Angelo, Ebone Martin, Elizabeth Rueter, Loriana Martinez (cox).
Varsity Four: Hawley Jervis (stroke), Erin Wiegers, Alex Guillermety, Nicole Szwanke, Kim Swift (cox).
Varsity Spares: Tiffany Prais, Barbara Boraggina, Celeste Woolley
Novice Spares: Liana Palenzuela, Jen Hunt