The thought of teaching and standing in front of an elementary school class made several UCF student-athletes nervous, but at the end of the day it was a memorable and rewarding experience.

 

13 Knights took part in the first "JA for a Day". A program associated with Junior Achievement of Central Florida. The goal of the organization is to help teach children in grades K-12 how to make smart academic and economic choices.

 

The UCF student-athletes taught five lessons to children between grades 3-5 at Hidden Oaks Elementary School.

 

"It's a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes to not only develop professionally, but also personally," said UCF Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services Keith Embray. "The number one fear is speaking in the public and they will have to speak in the public to little people, but at the same time were very happy to be here."

 

To find out more about how "JA for a Day" went for the Knights watch the video above.

UCF rowing commit Rachael Klunder has been named the 2012 Junior Female Sculler of the Year by Rowing Canada Aviron, the organization announced at its conference Jan. 26-27, in Vancouver, B.C.

A native of Smithville, Ontario, Klunder rows for the South Niagara Rowing Club and won the award for her victory in the Senior Women's Single event at the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association (CSSRA) Championships in June while competing for her high school, E.L. Crossley Secondary School.

Rachael will be enrolling at UCF this summer and will compete for the Knights in the 2013-2014 rowing season.

John Herdman, coach of Canada's 2012 bronze medal women's Olympic soccer team was the guest presenter. The event also included presentations by national coaches and top sports scientists. Special guests included 2012 Olympians, the Minister of State (Sport), Bal Gosal, and past Olympic medalists.

The UCF rowing team opens up its season with an exhibition Feb. 9 against Michigan in Sarasota, Fla.

UCF sophomore coxswain Katherine Kutash will be providing a behind-the-scenes look into the Knights varsity rowing team each week on the KnightLines blog with "Kat Out of the Bag". 

By Kat Kutash

This week, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with two very important members of the UCF women's rowing team: captains Camille Everett and Calena Illan.  Everett is a senior Interdisciplinary Studies major from Queens, NY. Illan is a junior from Orlando, FL majoring in Psychology. Both rowed in UCF's Varsity 8 last spring. Camille and Calena are two of the most competitive and charismatic athletes I have ever had the chance to work with and I have no doubt that they will lead us to a great year!

Kat:  How did you get into the sport of rowing?

Illan:  Growing up, my best friend and I were attached at the hip, when we hit high school we were zoned for different schools and wanted to find a middle ground we both could walk on, thankfully that happened to be the Orlando area rowing society. The rest is history really; I fell in love with the sport and got to keep my best friend. Win-win.

Everett: My mom gave me an ultimatum between rowing and the violin.

Kat: What is your best rowing memory?

Illan: My best rowing memory was when my high school eight beat our rival team for the first time, who doesn't love it when the underdog wins? 

Everett: My best rowing moment was getting third in the semifinals at club nationals and beating out CRI.

Kat: What is your favorite class you've taken at UCF so far?

Illan: My favorite class that I have taken at UCF has been Personality Theory and Research with Diane Robinson Ph.D. If you have an interest in psychology, this class is awesome! 

Everett: My favorite class at UCF thus far was Anatomy. I loved learning about the body, but I'm taking SOP 2772 this semester and that will most likely pass the Anatomy class!

Kat: What are you most excited for in the upcoming season?

Illan: I am most excited for conference this year. We have many fresh faces ready to race, and the attitude among the team is so positive. Throughout the year were all going to push each other past our limits and also become a close nit family that by the end of the season I honestly believe we will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Everett:  I'm most excited about the possibility of racing at the San Diego Crew Classic!

Until next time! 

-Kat 

UCF sophomore coxswain Katherine Kutash will be providing a behind-the-scenes look into the Knights varsity rowing team each week on the KnightLines blog with "Kat Out of the Bag". 

By Kat Kutash

For a rower, racing is divided into two very different seasons: fall and spring. Just as the weather in these two seasons differs greatly, so does the style of rowing. 

FALL

Fall races are roughly 3 miles long, and are executed in a style known as "head racing." A head race is essentially a race against the clock, with the objective being to complete the course with the fastest time. In a head race, boats are not started all at once, but in approximately ten second intervals. Head races are rowed at a much lower stroke rating, due to their length. Due to the long and often winding nature of these courses, it is especially important for a coxswain to steer the straightest and shortest course possible, since errors in steering will slow down the boat's overall time. The fall racing season is much shorter than the spring, with teams typically competing in two to three fall races a year.

                            SPRING 

Ask any rower what their favorite time of the year is, and their replies will be the same: the spring. Just as fall racing is slow and controlled, spring racing is its counterpart. In collegiate rowing, spring races are 2000m (just over one mile) and are often referred to as sprint races. Sprint races are completed in about seven minutes and are rowed at a much higher stroke rate than fall races. In a sprint race, all boats are lined up together and started at once. Unlike head racing, the racecourse is a straight 2000m and the objective is to cross the finish line first. At the start, all boats are aligned evenly, with about 5 feet between each competitor. After the official calls, "Attention, GO!," all boats essentially sprint off the line with one objective: to get their bow across the line first. Typically, the last 250m of a spring race is a dead sprint, although each boat will decide if and when to begin their sprint. It is in this last section of a sprint race that every athlete is emptying their tank. Until the horn sounds at the finish, rowers and coxswains are giving it their all to win their race. Sprint races are the ultimate adrenaline rush, and any rower will tell you that there is no other feeling like winning a sprint race. 

The spring season is much longer than the fall, with teams competing in on average seven races. Both seasons always prove to be grueling for rowers, coxswains, and coaches alike, but in the end it's an addictive sport that creates a unique bond for everyone involved.

See you then! 

-Kat