Oct. 30, 2009
By Jessica Rhoades
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's rowing team commences the 2009 fall season when three novice eight boats compete at the Hatter Classic Saturday on the St. John's River in nearby DeLand. The event, hosted by Stetson, is scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m. and will be the first for the Knights under first-year novice coach Joel Furtek.
"We are all excited for our novices to take their first steps into competitive rowing," Furtek said. "For 25 of the women racing, this is their first ever rowing race. Starting from scratch just six weeks ago, we have made great strides in learning the stroke, and I cannot wait to see our team put it all together on the course."
The Black and Gold squad will be taking on the Hatters, the UCF women's club rowing team and Embry Riddle in the Women's Novice Eight event.
With the regatta taking place on Halloween this season, the Hatter Classic will also feature a costumed rowing event for fans to enjoy, as well as a silent auction.
In 2008, the UCF "A" boat and the UCF "B" boat finished one-two in the novice eight event, with host Stetson coming in third-place and the UCF "C" boat finishing in fourth.
Collegiate novice events are limited to college scullers, rowers, and coxswains in NCAA programs who have been competing for one year or less as of the Regatta Day. Experience in sculling events does not count as experience in sweep events and vice versa. Previous junior/high school rowing experience is allowed in this category.
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.
UCF Hatter Classic Lineups
Novice A
B Shelby Flynn
2 Lyndsey Gassman
3 Nicole Goudreau
4 Lynna Paradiso
5 Lauren Jenkins
6 Allison Hernandez
7 Kelly Thiele
S Nicole Lacek
C Brooke Lewandowski
Novice B
B Megan Donnelly
2 Stacia Strong
3 Lorelei Rogero
4 Krystle Pittman
5 Sarah Ponte
6 Anna Traver
7 Taylor Crawford
S Stephanie Carillo
C Lea Kram
Novice C
B Brandi King
2 Melissa Miller
3 Lauren Green
4 Venesha Patel
5 Kirsten Olieberg
6 Amanda Mitchell
7 Katherine Dugan
S Alyssa McNair
C Amanda Phillips
-UCF-