ORLANDO – The UCF rowing team opened its season on Sunday with a trip to Earlysville, Va. for the Rivanna Romp. This is the third time in Knights history they have competed in this regatta, the previous times being in 2006 and 2019.
Nine Knight boats raced on Sunday, with three participating in the Varsity Eight race and the other six participating in the Varsity Four race.
The Varsity Eight lineup of Sophia Troia, Anna Kayser Gallego, Natasjia Voulanas, Charlotte Wiley, Emma Leavens, Tegan Fookes, Georgia Coyne, Liza Lutter and Connery Cassidy led the way for the Knights on the day, finishing eighth with a time of 13:41.7
The Second Varsity Eight squad of Sophia Tursi, Aryann Johnson, Emily Klysen, Kelly Brown, Maura Shiner, Lauren Montgomery, Hannah Lovejoy, Avery Bethel and Lindsey Buckreis finished in 14th with a time of 14:14.3.
The 3V8 lineup of Mackenzie Walton, Meagan Lukavec, Aubrie Russo, Veronica Rush, Martina Pischedda, Saskia Papsova, Seyene Oord, Lauryn Bench, and Martyna Wasilewska closed out the day for the varsity eight boats, finishing the race in 14:39.1 for 16th place.
Varsity Four races began with Brianna Nardelli, Anna Kayser Gallego, Martina Pischedda, Liza Lutter and Martyna Wasilewska leading the UCF boats across the line in a time of 15:19.9. to finish in fourteenth place.
The Varsity Four squad consisting of Julia Going, Emma Leavens, Emily Klysen, Seyene Oord and Lauryn Bench, finished just a few seconds behind the UCF's first squad to finish with a time of 15:26.9.
The two remaining Varsity Four boats placed right behind the second UCF squad to finish, with the Varsity Four boat consisting of Sophia Troia, Natasjia Voulanas, Kelly Brown, Tegan Fookes and Georgia Coyne crossing in 15:29.6. The final boat of four across the line held Audrey Vilender, Connery Cassidy, Meagan Lukavec, Avery Bethel and Lindsey Buckreis, who crossed less than one second behind the tertiary Knight boat, finishing in 15:30.4.
The fifth Varsity Four boat consisting of Sophia Tursi, Lauren Montgomery, Saskia Papsova, Charlotte Wiley, and Hannah Lovejoy was the next UCF squad to finish the race with a time of 15:35.5.
To round out the Varsity Four race, UCF's squad consisting of Mackenzie Walton, Aubrie Russo, Veronica Rush, Aryann Johnson, and Maura Shiner finished in 28th place with a time of 16:24.2.
Other teams that raced in the Rivanna Romp included the host school of Virginia along with Navy, Duke, UNC and Louisville.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will be back on the water in the spring to host a two-day scrimmage with Iowa on Feb. 9 and 10 at Lake Pickett.
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