April 19, 2006
ORLANDO - For the first time in school history, the UCF women's rowing team is ranked in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Varsity Eight Poll. The Golden Knights are ranked 20th in this week's poll, which was released Wednesday.
"This is a huge step for our program. We have consistently been racing well throughout the season and we are finally being recognized as having one of the top varsity eights in the country," said UCF head coach Leeanne Crain.
UCF is coming off of a strong performance this past weekend at the Stanford Invitational in Redwood Shores, Calif. All three of the teams that UCF faced - Washington State (7), UCLA (15) and host Stanford (16) - are ranked in the poll. The Golden Knights had been receiving votes in the poll in each of the last three weeks.
"We have posted fast times against ranked teams like Michigan, UCLA, Stanford and Washington State this season," said Crain. "Racing against these top teams has given us the opportunity to show that we are a solid program, not a flash-in-the-pan team. All of the student-athletes in the program deserve credit for the varsity eight's success. I couldn't be more proud of a squad than I am for this one."
The Golden Knights are one of three South Region teams in the rankings, joining No. 11 Virginia and 19th-ranked Tennessee. UCF earned 49 points in the poll, just six behind the Lady Volunteers.
Additionally, for the second-consecutive week, UCF's lightweight eight boat is ranked fifth nationally.
The team will return to action on May 6 when it competes at the Windermere Cup in Seattle, Wash.
USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Varsity Eight Poll
Team (1st-Place Votes) Points Previous Week
1. Princeton (24) 480 1
2. California 455 2
3. Southern California 425 3
4. Yale 402 4
5. Ohio State 383 5
6. Michigan State 339 7
7. Washington State 323 6
8. Michigan 297 9
9. Brown 262 10
10. Dartmouth 247 19t
11. Virginia 224 11
12. Harvard 215 8
13. Notre Dame 188 12
14. Washington 172 13
15. UCLA 171 14
16. Stanford 157 17
17. Minnesota 90 18
18. Wisconsin 66 16
19. Tennessee 56 15
20. UCF 49 NR