SARASOTA – The UCF rowing team picked up two wins and all five boats placed in the finals of the Sunshine State Invitational at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. on Friday afternoon.
The Knights launched their day with a first-place finish by the Second Varsity Four boat with a time of 7:28.5. The squad consisted of Audrey Vilendrer, Bailey White, Aubrie Russo, Avery Bethel and Emily LaRochelle.
The Varsity Fours consisting of Sophia Tursi, Saskia Papsova, Martina Pischedda, Veronica Rush and Martyna Wasilewska finished third with a time of 7:24.4.
The Knights 3V8 novice boat finished fifth with a time of 7:06.17 and consisted of Brianna Nardelli, Talyah Madison, Carolina Dovali, Ashley Tree, Ashley Tyles, Cate Maloney, Chloe Villani, Jordan Simeon and Brande Fox.
The second win of the day came from the Second Varsity Eight squad consisting of Julia Going, Georgia Coyne, Charlotte Wiley, Lauren Montgomery, Annberlee Hothem, Kelly Brown, Hannah Lovejoy, Natasjia Voulanas and Emily Klysen. The boat finished with a time of 6:41.98, more than three seconds ahead of Miami.
UCF finished the day with a fifth-place finish from its Varsity Eight boat consisting of Sophia Troia, Anna Kayser Gallego, Emma Leavens, Emily Puia, Seyene Oord, Tegan Fookes, Aryann Johnson, Lindsey Buckreis and Connery Cassidy. The boat finished with a time of 6:45.37.
The Knights close out their first Sarasota trip on Saturday morning. The Varsity Eight grand final is at 8:00 a.m. The Second Varsity Eight grand final is at 8:40 a.m. The Third Varsity Eight final is at 9:200 a.m. The Varsity Four grand final is at 10 a.m. and the Second Varsity Four rounds out the weekend with a 10:30 a.m. final.