WINTER PARK, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF rowing team opened its season in dominant fashion, winning all six events at the 39th Annual Metro Cup on Saturday.
The Knights won their ninth straight Robin Yeuell Trophy on Lake Maitland. In the four races with two UCF boats, the Black and Gold finished first and second and the Knights took top honors in the Second Varsity Eight and Novice Eight races.
The Novice Four race started the day. UCF’s “A” boat, consisting of Ciera Jarrett, Lauren Roman, Sophia Lopez, Nivia Garcia and Carina Rodriguez finished first with a time of 8:02.8.
The Knights’ “B” boat, consisting of Jennifer Barnes, Hanna Keene, Layla Machado Cervi, Maggie Klimchuck and Autumn Comiskey finished second in 8:14.6.
The Second Varsity Four kept UCF rolling. The “B” squad of Carlee Hoschouer, Tatum Cox, Rachel Rabinowitz, Dina Samaan and Amy Licht took first in 7:31.1, followed by the “A” boat of Jill Jernas, Lara Maule, Maria Yim, Emily Puia and Sydney Hays, who finished second in 7:36.1.
UCF’s Novice 8 squad, consisting of Melissa Hebel, Roman, Lopez, Garcia, Rodriguez, McKenna Williams, Machado Cervi, Maggie Adair and Liz Isom posted an open-water win, crossing the line in 7:26.6.
The Varsity Four “B” consisting of Hoschouer, Edvina Nesukaitye, Luci Derrick, Leslie Lajoie and Marija Medelinskaite raced to an open-water win in 7:25.4.
The “A” boat, consisting of Nicole Mayer, Grace Lindberg, Julie Poulsen, Paula Parks and Aly Derksen finished second in 7:38.7 to finish second by more than 30 seconds ahead of third place.
The Second Varsity Eight, consisting of Ashlie Infante, Grace Trujillo, Jacinta Kendall, Tatum Cox, Caitlin Ross, Puia, Alonso, Dina Samaan and Jordan Jahosky posted a winning time of 7:23.1 – nearly a minute ahead of the second place squad.
The Knights closed out the day with the Varsity Eight race.
UCF’s “B” boat, consisting of Elena Esteban, Lajoie, Poulsen, Abbie Pritchard, Mia Cleary, Michaela Gundrum, Chiara Cuillo, Jessica Matteson and Derksen cruised to a 6:39.2 win to ensure UCF’s sweep of the day.
The “A” boat, consisting of Mayer, Lindberg, Shannon Perry, Nesukaityte, Derrick, Rusne Dziugtye, Medelinskaite, Parks and Amy Van Ryn finished second in 6:43.7 – more than a minute ahead of the third place squad.
Next up, the Knights will host UConn and Jacksonville on Lake Pickett on March 22.