ORLANDO – The only thing that could hold the UCF rowing team back in its 2022 season opener was the weather. Heavy fog on Lake Pickett pushed the start of racing back about 40 minutes, but once the weather cleared, the Knights could not be stopped.
UCF swept all five events in the opening regatta.
UCF's Varsity Eight, consisting of Lauren Roman, Emily Puia, Anna Kayser Gallego, Lindsey Buckreis, Emma Leavens, Tegan Fookes, Kelly Brown, Martina Pischedda and Connery Cassidy, won with a time of 6:40.35. They finished more than 17 seconds ahead of second-place Jacksonville.
The Second Varsity Eight of Sophia Troia, Georgia Coyne, Charlotte Wiley, Martyna Wasilewska, Annberlee Hothem, Brianna DiSanti, Maura Shiner, Tatum Cox and Jillian Lawrenson, won in 6:43.94, which was nearly 25 seconds ahead of second place Jacksonville.
The Varsity Four finished more than 20 seconds ahead of Jacksonville. The squad of Mackenzie Harrod, Saskia Papsova, Aryann Johnson, Emily Klysen and Meagan Lukavec, won in 7:38.42.
UCF's A squad of Julia Going, Floor Hurkmans, Rachel Dunford, Claire Kaminski and Chiara Ciullo picked up the win in the Second Varsity Four race in 8:20.33. The B squad of Mackenzie Walton, Avery Bethel, Aubrie Russo, Grace Kanaday and Samantha Migliore finished second in 8:41.69.
The Third Varsity Eight squad of Sofia Soria, Maddie Adolfs, Callie Keel, Cameron Bowman, Izzy Kaltenbaugh, Emma Faulkner, Isabella Pinera, Scarlet Robbins and Julianne Souza, closed out the day with a win in 7:53.39.
Next up, UCF heads to Virginia for the UVA Invite on March 26.
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