March 19, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's rowing team hits the water for the first time in 2009 March 20-22 when it travels to Austin, Texas, for the Longhorn Invitational. Despite having participated in the Metro Cup earlier in March, this will be the first appearance for the Knights' varsity squad.
The three-day event begins for the Knights at 4:48 p.m. Friday with the team battling preseason No. 14 Wisconsin, before they take on both Iowa and Oklahoma Saturday. The Black and Gold will go head-to-head with the Hawkeyes in the morning, with the first boat taking off at 9:36 a.m., before facing the Sooners and former UCF head coach Leeanne Craine and Kansas State later in the evening, beginning at 5:36 p.m.
The Longhorn Invitational wraps up Sunday morning when the Black and Gold races host Texas starting at 8:48 a.m.
Last season, the Knights grabbed first place in 11 of 16 events at the event, taking the Longhorn Trophy back to Orlando.
UCF opened the event with an impressive win over Wisconsin by just over seven seconds, while the second varsity eight also picked up a win. The second V8 used a time of 7:04.8 for the win against UW (7:09.4), which set up a strong performance for the first varsity eight as it delivered a victory in its first test of the year, getting by the Badgers in 6:54.0.
The Knights won seven of eight events on Lady Bird Lake on day two of the regatta, as UCF delivered victories in the first novice 8+, the first varsity 4+ and the second varsity 8+ over Iowa. Later in the afternoon, UCF battled Kansas State and posted convincing wins in the novice 8+ and second varsity 8+ events. The varsity eight boat then dominated the Wildcats, finishing with a time of 7:06.1 compared to KSU's 7:29.6. The Knights completed their Saturday by defeating Duke in the varsity four (8:32.8 to 9:05.3).
On the final day of competition, the Knights topped host Texas in the first novice 8+, posting a time of 6:54.9 for the win. After Texas notched a victory in the first varsity 4+, UCF came back for a seven-second triumph in the second varsity 8+.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Longhorn Invitational Lineups
Varsity 8
Cox: Brittany Skidmore
Stroke: Jordynn Pauls
7: Emma Gresson
6: Tanis Franchuk
5: Sam Sarff
4: Chelsey Lauzon
3: Tara Rogers
2: Jessica Veeneman
1: Katherine Krueger
2nd Varsity 8
Cox: Lauren Patton
Stroke: Liz Robinson
7: Leah VanLear
6: Allisha Campaigne
5: Lauren Hampson
4: Erin Bernier
3: Danielle Leen
2: Sam Miller
1: Erin Bernier
Varsity 4
Cox: Victoria Ortiz
Stroke: Alyson Davis
3: Taylor Wiatt
2: Danielle Hopkins
1: Nicole Hoag
2nd Varsity 4
Cox: Stephanie Galo
Stroke: Monica Larkin
3: Danielle Hopkins
2: Sheilah Abadines
1: Christine Rubino
Novice 8
Cox: Claire Frenkel
Stroke: Caitlin Mathews
7: Tina Bechtold
6: Michelle Haves
5: Lucia Pinelli
4: Chelsey Green
3: Nina Morgan
2: Margaret Lahmeyer
1: Alyssa Egan
Longhorn Invitational Schedule of Events
Friday, March 20 vs. Wisconsin
4:48 p.m., novice 8+
4:56 p.m., 2nd varsity 4+
5:04 p.m., varsity 4+
5:12 p.m., 2nd varsity 8+
5:20 p.m., varsity 8+
Saturday, March 21 vs. Iowa
9:36 a.m., novice 8+
9:44 a.m., 2nd varsity 4+
9:52 a.m., varsity 4+
10:00 a.m., 2nd varsity 8+
10:08 a.m., varsity 8+
Saturday, March 21 vs. Oklahoma
5:36 p.m., 2nd varsity 4+/varsity 4+
Saturday, March 21 vs. Kansas State
5:52 p.m., novice 8+
6:00 p.m., varsity 4+
6:08 p.m., 2nd varsity 8+
6:16 p.m., varsity 8+
Sunday, March 22 vs. Texas
8:48 a.m., novice 8+
8:56 a.m., varsity 4+
9:04 a.m., 2nd varsity 4+
9:12 a.m., varsity 8+
Sunday, March 22 vs. Iowa
9:36 a.m., 2nd varsity 4+
-UCF-