SARASOTA, Fla. - The UCF rowing team has claimed the 2025 Big 12 Championship after a clean sweep of all races on Sunday morning at Nathan Benderson Park.
“I know that the team has put in so much work this year and to see it come to fruition in a conference championship is so amazing. I’m really excited for what’s next for this team.”
Mara AllenUCF Rowing Head CoachThe historic championship win marks the program’s first Big 12 title, the first conference title since winning the American Athletic Conference for five straight years from 2015 to 2019.
The day started with an exhibition race of the Third 4+ boats between UCF and Old Dominion. The Black and Gold set the tone for the rest of the race, topping the Monarch’s with a time of 07:50.026 to their 08:28.138, a 38-second lead. The first winning boat of the day consisted of junior coxswain Eliza Shaffer alongside freshman Sidney Norman, freshman Jennifer Durnall, sophomore Riley Vincent and freshman Kendall Bovino.
To begin the point-qualifying boat races, the Third 8+ continued the momentum claiming first place with a 15.8-second advantage over the nearest boat. The crew was coxed by senior Elsa Cassellius with sophomore Landyn Williams, sophomore Izzy Bate, freshman Morgan Northey, junior Sophia Keller, sophomore Alexa Konowal, sophomore Karin Kudmani, sophomore Makayla Baxley and junior Alina Tasman.
The Knights continued to dominate the competition as the Second 4+ crossed the line with plenty of open water to spare, claiming first place. The crew composed of freshman coxswain Vianna Smith along with sophomore Leighann Franklin, sophomore Lexi Sanchez, senior Meagan Lukavec and sophomore Vilma Kangasmäki slotted in with a time of 07:33.980.
UCF kept the pace in the First 4+ race, crossing the finish first with a time of 07:22.231. In the boat sat junior coxswain Sophia Tursi, junior Cate Maloney, freshman Sofia Palacios, freshman Kesha Bruinette and sophomore Amber Tulloch.
The first of two races remaining, the Second 8+ kept the pressure on all the crews in the race, finishing with a 16-second advantage over the next closest boat. The boat, finishing at a time of 06:35.960, consisted of senior coxswain Julia Going alongside freshman Sofia Scott, junior Natasjia Voulanas, senior Claire Kaminiski, sophomore Maja Misljenovic, junior Veronica Rush, senior Bella Montalvo, sophomore Ines Martin and junior Amalie Thorsen.
With a clean sweep and Big 12 title just 2000 meters away, the First 8+ would not show any weakness finishing the race claiming the last first-place victory for the Knights. The crew of nine recorded their best time all season at 06:22.086. The clinching crew was coxed by junior Audrey Vilendrer, freshman Sofia Naboni Nevado, fifth year Madlen Markova, sophomore Brigitte Kappler, sophomore Reese Springer, freshman Lucy Buckingham, fifth year Elisa Faiola, freshman Luna Kuiper and junior Hannah Lovejoy.
This history-making race marks the second time this season that the Black and Gold have swept all races at Nathan Benderson Park, the first time being the Sarasota 2k earlier this spring.
With the Big 12 title claimed, the Knights receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship just two weeks away. UCF will travel to Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. on Friday, May 30 to June 1 to compete against the best crews in the nation.