OAK RIDGE – The UCF rowing team repeated its runner-up performance at the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championship on Melton Lake Sunday morning.
UCF opened the morning with a second place finish from its Second Varsity Four. The squad of Mackenzie Harrod, Chiara Ciullo, Claire Kaminski, Aryann Johnson and Emily Klysen, crossed the line in 7:48.987.
The Knights collected their second silver medal performance in the Varsity Four race. The boat, consisting of Julia Going, Saskia Papsova, Avery Bethel, Charlotte Wiley and Meagan Lukavec finished in 7:36.436.
The Second Varsity Eight added a third silver medal of the day as the Knights took second. The squad of Sophia Troia, Georgia Coyne, Tatum Cox, Kelly Brown, Jillian Lawrenson, Rachel Dunford, Maura Shiner, Martyna Wasilewska and Annberlee Hothem, crossed the line in 6:54.387.
After a delay for one of the crews to repair its boat, the teams lined up for the fourth and final race of the day and the Varsity Eight rounded out racing with a fourth silver medal performance. UCF's squad of Lauren Roman, Emily Puia, Connery Cassidy, Lindsey Buckreis, Emma Leavens, Tegan Fookes, Brianna DiSanti, Martina Pischedda and Anna Kayser Gallego made a push down the course, walking through Tulsa to keep No. 12 SMU within reach, but the Knights were unable to catch the Mustangs. UCF finished second in 6:44.287.
Overall, UCF finished second in the team standings with 144 points. Five Knights were recognized by the league. Tegan Fookes and Emily Puia earned first team all-conference honors while Charlotte Wiley, Anna Kayser Gallego and Lauren Roman garnered second team laurels.
No. 12 SMU picked up wins in all four events to claim the team title and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. The selection show will be held May 17 on NCAA.com. The 2021 NCAA Championships are May 27-29 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.
Team Results
1. No. 12 SMU 168 points
2. UCF 144 points
3. Tulsa 104 points
4. Temple 104 points
5. Sacramento State 76 points
6. Old Dominion 52 points
Second Varsity Four
1. SMU 7:33.157
2. UCF 7:48.987
3. Temple 8:18.049
4. Tulsa 8:32.747
Varsity Four
1. SMU 7:27.299
2. UCF 7:36.436
3. Tulsa 7:45.253
4. Temple 8:04.234
5. Old Dominion 8:15.433
6. Sacramento State 8:46.655
Second Varsity Eight
1. SMU 6:41.584
2. UCF 6:54.387
3. Temple 7:00.381
4. Sacramento State 7:10.371
5. Tulsa 7:12.729
6. Old Dominion 8:38.749
Varsity Eight
1. SMU 6:36.063
2. UCF 6:44.287
3. Tulsa 6:47.666
4. Temple 6:54.852
4. Sacramento State 6:57.551
5. Old Dominion 7:04.676
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