ORLANDO – Just a week and a half removed from winning their second consecutive Big 12 title, the No. 12 rowing team is set to compete in this year’s NCAA Championships on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga.
This year’s appearance in the championship marks the second in just as many years, the first time the Black and Gold have gone to the competition in consecutive years since the 2018-19 season.
Last year’s championship saw a historic showing for the Knights out of Orlando, with every boat advancing to the C finals for the first time in program history, finishing at a record-high at 15th overall. In addition to the team finish, the Knights also secured the highest individual boat finishes in program history, highlighted by the First 4+ placing 13th, the highest a UCF crew has ever finished.
The Knights are set to begin competition on Friday, May 29 with heat races on day one starting at 10:00 a.m. In the First 8+, UCF holds the No. 10 seed and will start the day, lining up in Heat 2 alongside Boston, No. 3 Texas, No. 8 California and No. 14 Ohio State, launching from lane two.
The Second 8+ continues the morning at 10:36 a.m. as the No. 17 seed, drawing a challenging Heat 1 with No. 11 Syracuse, No. 2 Stanford, No. 1 Tennessee and No. 14 Ohio State from lane one.
The First 4+, UCF’s highest‑seeded crew at No. 8, closes out racing in Heat 1 against No. 17 Columbia, No. 9 Brown, No. 2 Stanford and No. 13 Miami from lane four at 11:24 a.m.
Each UCF crew will race to determine whether they are advancing to the A/B or C/D semifinal the next day beginning at 8:12 a.m. Championship Day on Saturday, May 31 is set to start with the first final at 8:12 a.m. with a winner being crowned just hours later at 11:00 a.m.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.