ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – It was UCF's Varsity Four's year. But before the crew became the first Top 15 boat in UCF Rowing history, their trip down the course was full of obstacles.
The start was shaky.
In October, Jessica Matteson suffered a back injury. After working her way back into the V4, she began experiencing new symptoms. As the team was preparing for spring camp in January, she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.
While this required a major adjustment for Matteson, it also prompted her coxswain, Carlee Hoschouer, to make adjustments to her routine.
"I've made sure I've had snacks with me," Hoschouer said. "Along with my tools, I've had snacks from that point on. I'd check in more with Jess. I can't see her, so I can't see if she was getting overly exhausted or if something was happening in that moment (of racing). I'd say 'Jess, let me know, let me know.'"
By now, Hoschouer, Matteson and Chiara Ciullo had a routine, really gelling in the V4.
The trio, along with Lauryn Bench and Maria Yim, were named the American Athletic Conference Boat of the Week on April 9.
Then their lineup changed.
Paula Parks had spent three years rowing in the Varsity Four. This spring, she and freshman Amy Van Ryn competed as part of UCF's Second Varsity Eight. Ahead of the Clemson Invite, the pair was moved into the V4.
"We jumped in a four boat who came from having a Boat of the Week (honor). So, that was weird," Parks laughed. "We had really, really high expectations and pressure to make it even better."
With just two regattas on the schedule until the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championship, the crew had about a month before they raced to defend a title.
But the weather wouldn't cooperate.
Two days of delays – tornado warnings, lightning in the area – forced the Clemson Invite to be canceled without any official results. One of their best tests of the season was suddenly taken away. Weather was a factor again the following weekend at the Lake Wheeler Invite. After weather delayed Friday's racing, the squad was able to line up and race.
Two weeks later, they arrived in Oklahoma City with one more change – Hoschouer had come down with an illness that pulled her from the boat the week of the championship. Instead, Ciera Jarrett would cox the squad for the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championship
Shortly after launching for practice on May 16, head coach Becky Cramer received a call. Instead of racing on May 19, the Knights were now looking to defend their title for the fifth-straight year the very next morning.
Entering the championship, the Knights were favored to win the Varsity Four race. However, Parks and Matteson, who rowed in the Varsity Four that finished second at the 2018 American Athletic Conference championship, knew that it wouldn't be easy.
"Coming from last year racing in the V4, SMU had a lot on us," Matteson said. "They came out of nowhere. Going into conference this year, (I realized) that these people are going to push because they want it just as bad as we do."
Turned out, it was.
After the first 500 meters, the crew led by open water. Halfway down the course, their lead was nearly 10 seconds. One year after finishing six seconds behind SMU for a second place finish in their race, the V4's bow ball pushed across the line more than 10 seconds ahead of the field to take the title.
Four days after their dominating performance, the crew saw their name next to the No. 15 seed during the NCAA's Rowing Championship selection show. They had officially earned the highest seed by a UCF boat at the national regatta.
As was the norm by this point in the season, racing was delayed on the opening day of the NCAA Championship. Debris on the course, of course, because that was only fitting. Scheduled to race at 10:48 a.m., the crew was forced to wait nearly seven and a half hours before finally making their trip down the course.
They just missed the cut for the A/B semifinal, but their goal of a top 15 finish was still within reach. Taking second by a length of open water in the C/D semifinal, the squad was one step closer to making history.
In the four previous NCAA appearances, UCF's Varsity Four had made the D Final each year, winning it twice for 19th overall.
By making the C Final, the group was guaranteed to finish 18th or better, ensuring the boat's highest NCAA finish.
Battling Wisconsin for the second day in a row, the Knights were among the top two coming down the course. The Badgers held off UCF in the end, but the Black and Gold's second place finish in the C Final ensured them 15th place overall. The crew's final time of 7:13.604 was actually the 14th-fastest in the finals and put them across the line nearly four seconds ahead of third-place Iowa.
They had done it. They had earned the highest finish by a UCF boat at the NCAA Championship. They were Top 15.
For the lone senior of the group, it was the perfect way to cap off her career.
"I came in as an international student-athlete and Coach (Becky Cramer) put so much trust in me," Parks said. "When I heard my freshman year that we wanted to be Top 15, I said 'I have to give her that.' I was super happy and emotional to get to the dock and say 'Coach Becky, we got Top 15.' I couldn't believe that we had done it and had so much fun doing it."
For the two freshmen rowers in the boat, it set the tone for the rest of their time with the Black and Gold.
"Being part of UCF Rowing history as a freshman is crazy, let me say that," Cuillo said. "It's crazy and unbelievable, and it makes me train for more. My teammates – who have become my sisters – have I have accomplished so much and have had so much fun doing it. All I was to do is do it again and improve even more."
Van Ryn echoed the sentiment.
"It feels incredible," Van Ryn said. "This is my first year ever rowing. It makes me very excited for the future and gives me complete confidence that I made the right choice by coming here and rowing."