SARASOTA – The UCF rowing team picked up three wins and advanced all five boats to the grand final at the Sunshine State Invite at Nathan Benderson Park.
The Knights started Friday action with a win from the Second Varsity Four. The squad, consisting of Mackenzie Harrod, Chiara Ciullo, Rachel Dunford, Claire Kaminski and Avery Bethel, finished nearly 10 seconds ahead of Iowa and crossed the line in 7:26.36.
The Varsity Four, consisting of Julia Going, Emily Klysen, Aryann Johnson, Saskia Papsova and Meagan Lukavec, finished second behind the Hawkeyes in 7:22.81.
The Third Varsity Eight lineup of Brianna Nardelli, Maddie Adolfs, Callie Keel, Emma Faulkner, Izzy Kaltenbaugh, Kate Corrigan, Isabella Pinera, Scarlet Robbins and Julianne Souza, finished third in 7:03.97.
The Second Varsity Eight added another win for the Knights, crossing the line more than five seconds ahead of Kansas State. The squad, consisting of Sophia Troia, Georgia Coyne, Annberlee Hothem, Brianna DiSanti, Maura Shiner, Martyna Wasilewska, Jillian Lawrenson, Tatum Cox and Lindsey Buckreis, crossed the line in 6:38.65.
The Varsity Eight rounded out the opening day on the water with another victory for the Black and Gold. The boat, consisting of Lauren Roman, Emily Puia, Emma Leavens, Charlotte Wiley, Anna Kayser Gallego, Martina Pischedda, Kelly Brown, Tegan Fookes and Connery Cassidy, crossed the finish line in 6:30.46, more than two seconds ahead of second place Northeastern.
The Knights close out the Sunshine State Invite on Saturday morning. The Varsity Eight grand final is at 8:10 a.m. The Second Varsity Eight grand final is at 8:50 a.m. The Third Varsity Eight final is at 9:30 a.m. The Varsity Four grand final is at 10 a.m. and the Second Varsity Four rounds out the weekend with a 10:20 a.m. final.
