ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Lake Mercer is a special place for UCF Rowing.
It was where, on May 17, 2015, UCF won the first conference championship in program history. On Friday, it is where the Knights will open the action in their third consecutive NCAA Championship.
For seven members of the squad, this weekend holds extra meaning. Lauren Aiello, Jasmine Blais, Ashleigh Boyd, Olivia Hecimovich, Rachael Klunder, Danielle Taylor and Kristen Taylor will close out their UCF careers on the same water they helped make history on just a few years ago.
"We hadn't even won a conference title the last time we were here," Ashleigh Boyd said. "It was our first conference championship. Now we're back, three conference championships and three NCAAs later. It's almost a full circle. I'm excited to finish on this special lake."
The senior class competed in the inaugural American Athletic Conference Championship in 2014 where UCF finished as the runner-up. One year later, the Knights were back on Lake Mercer with their sights set on one thing: winning the first conference title in UCF Rowing history.
The Knights trailed Tulsa heading into the final event of The American Championship – the Varsity Eight race.
Olivia Hecimovich was the sophomore coxswain of the boat. She directed her squad to a first place finish, crossing the line more than seven seconds ahead of the Golden Hurricane.
"When we got to the start gates, we were just out in front right away," Hecimovich recounted. "I think it just made them realized all the work that they put in was going into that. It was open water all the way down."
Returning to Lake Mercer for the first time since winning The American in 2015 provides an extra boost for the three boats this weekend.
"It gives me flashbacks," Hecimovich said. "I have confidence. I feel like it's easier to make things happen."
In 2016, UCF earned its second straight league championship title, this time across the country in Sacramento. On May 13, 2017, the Knights won their third consecutive conference crown in dominating fashion – sweeping all six events in Sarasota.
"When I came to UCF, the team was still developing in terms of competitiveness," Jasmine Blais said. "Coming from Canada and getting a scholarship to a U.S. university was big. I would have never thought that we would do a three-peat in our conference. It's such a great feeling. I think it's incredible."
After a pair of top 20 finishes at the last two NCAA Championships, the Knights are aiming a little higher this time around. For a senior class who has seen the program's progress, it feels like an achievable goal.
"I feel like this is just the start of something big," Blais said. "The amount of steps that we've taken forward in the last three years is huge. I'm really happy to be a part of that legacy. I hope it just continues to build from here."
The Varsity Eight will race in the first heat at 9 a.m. on Friday. The Second Varsity Eight is slated for a 10:24 a.m. start and the Varsity Four will race at 10:48 a.m. All three days of action will be streamed on NCAA.com.
