May 12, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF women's rowing team will compete at the Aramark South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn. this weekend. The Golden Knights, will be competing against some of the top crews in the nation at the regatta, which serves as a combined regional championship for the Central and South Regions.
Heats at the event are scheduled for Saturday and the finals are slated for Sunday. UCF will compete in varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four and novice eight races.
UCF's varsity eight boat, ranked 19th nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Poll, is seeded ninth at the regatta. The Golden Knights will be competing against eight other ranked teams at the regatta, including No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan and No. 9 Minnesota.
The fastest team from each of the regions (Central, South, New England, Mid-Atlantic, West) receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. The remaining 11 teams that will comprise the field at the NCAA Championships will be selected at-large from across the country.
Last weekend, UCF's varsity eight boat competed at the Windermere Cup in Seattle, Wash., one of the top events in the nation. The Golden Knights finished third, racing against the Russian Under-23 National Team and 10th-ranked Washington.
A year ago, when UCF participated in the regionals in Oak Ridge, its varsity eight boat finished sixth in the "B" final. The varsity four boat finished second in the "C" final.
UCF lineups:
Varsity Eight
Cox: Katie Chapman
Stroke: Caitlin Pauls
7 seat: Kyla Smith
6 seat: Tanya Kleisler
5 seat: Krystina Sarff
4 seat: Stephanie Adams
3 seat: Melissa Westhoff
2 seat: Robin Capers
Bow: Katherine Motes
Second Varsity Eight
Cox: Kim Swift
Stroke: Tanis Franchuk
7 seat: Melissa Kroll
6 seat: Samantha Heinrich
5 seat: Kristin Roach
4 seat: Christina Smith
3 seat: Brittney Kusner
2 seat: Erika Frantz
Bow: Christy Collier
Varsity Four
Cox: Heather Brooks
Stroke: Vilma Ramos
3 seat: Tara Rogers
2 seat: Jessica Veeneman
Bow: Nicole Szwanke
Novice Eight
Cox: Lecelle Johnson
Stroke: Erin Bernier
7 seat: Megan Davies
6 seat: Ally Baldwin
5 seat: Danielle Leen
4 seat: Ashlynn O'Connor
3 seat: Kaitlin O'Connell
2 seat: Jill Piontkowski
Bow: Taylor Wiatt