PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (UCFKnights.com) - In 2015, the UCF rowing team earned its first conference championship in program history. On Saturday morning, the Knights again made history, as the Knights rowed to their fourth consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship at Cooper River Park.
"It's awesome," UCF head coach Becky Cramer said of the four-straight titles. "With the conference getting so much faster, (the championship) was tight and it was hard-fought. (The team) was ready to go. Every stroke and every practice went into today; they were ready for it."
UCF becomes just the second women's program in The American to win four straight titles in the five-year history of the league. The Knights join UConn Women's Basketball as the only two squads with four or more conference titles.
The Knights placed seven on the all-conference team. Julie Poulsen, Marija Medelinskaite, Viktorija Senkute and Edvina Nesukaityte earned first team honors, while Grace Lindberg, Nicole Mayer and Catherine Harms were second team honorees. UCF also collected its fourth straight Coaching Staff of the Year award.
At the halfway point, UCF held a five point edge in the standings after a trio of second place finishes.
The Third Varsity Four opened the day with a second place finish. The squad, consisting of Alexis Greer, Anna Edkins, Jessica Scales, Tatum Cox and Nicole Snyder crossed the line in 8:48.11 to earn the first medals of the day for the Black and Gold.
UCF's Second Varsity Four continued the medal performance with a second place finish. Jillian Jernas coxed Danielle Wilson, Darby Brooks, Magdalena Pasternak and Jacinta Kendall across the finish line in 8:35.37.
Taylor Jenko, Caitlin Thompson, Jordan Jahosky, Eileen Acken, Caitlin Ross, Demi Dorsey, Maria Yim, Julia Quintiliani and Jennifer Barnes collected a second place finish for the Black and Gold in the Third Varsity Eight race. The boat finished in 8:07.30 in the third race of the day.
Varsity Four boosted the Knights in the standings with a second place finish. The boat, consisting of Elena Esteban, Aly Derksen, Abbie Pritchard, Jessica Matteson and Paula Parks rowed across the finish line in 8:26.74.
Holding a nine point advantage, UCF's Second Varsity Eight lined up on the water. For the fourth consecutive season, the 2V8 delivered.
The squad of Catherine Harms, Alyssa Ramos, Ieva Medelinskaite, Rusne Dziugyte, Sydney Hays, Leslie Lajoie, Shannon Perry, Michaela Gundrum and Rachel Rabinowitz pulled away down the stretch, crossing the line in 7:18.2, nearly three seconds ahead of second place Sacramento State.
With a 25-point edge heading into the final race of the day, UCF could finish as low as third and still clinch the championship.
But for the three-time champion Varsity Eight boat, anything below first was unacceptable.
Nicole Mayer, Lara Maule, Julie Poulsen, Viktorija Senkute, Marija Medelinskaite, Grace Lindberg, Mia Cleary, Edvina Nesukaityte and Luci Derrick cruised to a 6:59.60 time to win the fourth consecutive Varsity Eight title.
UCF finished with 209 points, clinching The American's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, which will be held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla., from May 25-27.
Results (Order of Races)
3V4
1. San Diego State 8:43.32
2. UCF 8:48.11
3. Tulsa 8:57.56
4. UConn 9:01.97
5. Temple 9:09.64
6. SMU 9:13.67
7. Sacramento State 9:14.43
2V4
1. Tulsa 8:31.70
2. UCF 8:35.37
3. Temple 8:38.07
4. San Diego State 8:38.66
5. Sacramento State 8:40.78
6. SMU 8:44.40
7. UConn 8:59.10
3V8
1. UConn 7:46.00
2. UCF 8:07.30
3. Temple 8:09.00
V4
1. SMU 8:20.1
2. UCF 8:26.74
3. Temple 8:28.27
4. Tulsa 8:31.42
5. Sacramento State 8:35.97
6. UConn 8:36.30
7. San Diego State 8:57.95
2V8
1. UCF 7:18.2
2. Sacramento State 7:21.80
3. Temple 7:29.12
4. Tulsa 7:35
5. SMU 7:36.79
6. San Diego State 7:39.45
7. UConn 7:41.43
V8
1. UCF 6:59.60
2. Tulsa - 7:02.33
3. SMU 7:05.64
4. Temple 7:08.66
5. San Diego State 7:08.67
6. Sacramento State - 7:15.79
7. UConn 7:28.65