IRVING, Texas – The Tulsa Varsity 8 has been named the 2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Boat of the Year. In addition, Old Dominion freshman Nicole Knight has been named The American’s Newcomer of the Year.
 
The Tulsa V8 crew, consisting of Johanna Kristof, Kristina Harris, Ifiyenia Marinos, Emily Bell, Madlen Markova, Darya Vyrupayeva, Robine Van Doorn, Anna Shaw and coxswain Isabella Musollino, became the first Golden Hurricane Varsity 8 to win the conference title at the 2024 American Championships May 12 on Lake Melton in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
 
Harris, Kristof and Vyrupayeya were all named to the all-conference first team, while Musollino and Shaw were tabbed to the all-conference second team.
 
Knight, a walk-on freshman with no prior experience and is hearing impaired, joined the Old Dominion program and moved her way all the way up to the Monarchs’ Varsity 8, earning the team’s Freshman award. Knight rowed in the 5-seat of Old Dominion’s V8 at the 2024 conference regatta.