PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The UCF varsity eight was voted the American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year, in voting of the conference’s seven head coaches.
 
The varsity eight was one of four UCF boats to set a record time at the American Championship on May 13; the boat crossed the line in 6:24.8 to cap a sweep of the championship for the Knights.
 
In the boat that day was the crew of Mia Cleary (Bow), Viktorija Senkate (2), Marija Medelinskaite (3), Zana Krakic (4), Lauren Aiello (5), Julie Poulsen (6), Claudia DeStefani (7), Ashleigh Boyd (8) and Olivia Hecimovich (Cox).
 
During the season, the varsity eight claimed victories over Duke, Oklahoma and UCLA. The boat was also tabbed the American Boat of the Week on two occasions.
 
The Boat of the Year honor adds to UCF’s list of 2017 rowing accolades. The Knights' coaching staff was named The American Coaching Staff of the Year for the third-straight season, after winning the program’s third consecutive conference championship. Seven Knights were named to the all-conference team, including Medelinskaite, Aiello, Poulsen and Boyd, all of whom earned first team recognition.
 
UCF will compete at the 2017 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship May 26-28, at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.