Charlotte Wiley joined the Knights in the fall of 2020 and spilt time during her first collegiate rowing season in a three of UCF's top boats during the 2021 campaign.
A native of Guilford, Conn., Wiley began the spring racing in the Varsity Four before moving up to the Varsity Eight for three straight regattas. She moved into the Second Varsity Eight and was the five seat of the 2V8 that finished second while also helping the Knights to a runner-up performance at The American Championship in May before collecting The American Newcomer of the Year on June 2. The rising sophomore reflected on her freshman campaign and provided a summer update.
How would you describe your first year in college?
My freshman year at UCF was awesome! Launching into college during a pandemic certainly came with its challenges, but our team, the UCF Athletics staff, and our greater UCF community made the best of it. My professors did a great job of keeping courses engaging and interesting, even over Zoom.
In terms of rowing, I loved my first year on the team. We trained in small groups in the fall because of COVID-19 protocols, which ended up being a great way to get to know my teammates. In the spring, I had the chance to row with a wide variety of people (from 5th year seniors to other freshmen). You can learn something from everyone, so I'm grateful for that opportunity.
What was it like when you found out you were named the American Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year?
I was so honored! Right before it was announced, my coaches texted me saying that I should keep an eye on Twitter for special news - I saw it and was surprised and excited at the same time! Our conference is gaining speed and becoming even more competitive, and I'm so happy to help UCF be at the forefront of that change. We had so many strong newcomers on our team last year, and I'm humbled to be one of them. I can't wait to see what the next few years hold.
What have you been working on this summer?
Training with the Green Racing Project (GRP) at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC) this summer has been a fantastic opportunity. The COC is a training center for U23 and senior (post-college) rowers who aim to make the national team, which is an incredible environment to live in. A special aspect of the COC is its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship (hence the name Green Racing Project), which piqued my interest as an environmental studies major.
The GRP focuses on sculling (rowing with two oars) in small boats as opposed to sweeping (rowing with one oar) in big boats like we do at UCF. Sculling provides a different technical perspective on the sport that I'm looking forward to bringing back to campus this fall.
What are you most excited about for the 2021-22 season?
I'm excited to get faster! Both personally and as a team, I think we'll be able to find a lot of speed and demonstrate it in the spring. I'm looking forward to seeing our team operate at its full extent this year. Building off our second-place finish at last year's American Athletic Conference Championships, our team has the fire and drive to win. We're ready to get to work.
How did you choose your environmental studies major?
Combatting climate change and working toward a sustainable society are some of my life goals. I love nature and want to make the world a better place, so environmental studies seemed like the perfect major. Students are provided a well-rounded education in multiple aspects of the field, which is important background for any career path. For instance, one of my classes last spring was an introduction to GIS, a mapping software frequently used in environmental science careers. Another focused on environmental sociology, studying how human and ecological communities interact. I love that my major is built on this rich variety of learning opportunities and can't wait to use my degree as a force for good in my career.
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