The UCF Knights Rowing team is coming off a historic season in only its second year under its new head coach.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Knights as they start their 2026 season:
Who’s in Charge?
Mara Allen – 3rd season as Head Coach
Mara Allen was a part of eight Big 12 titles and two NCAA Championships on the Texas Longhorns’ staff under her old college coach, Dave O’Neil. Last season, she got her first Big 12 title heading up her own program.
Hear what she had to say at the Rowing team’s 2026 Media
Day below:
Last Season
Big 12 Champions; 15th at NCAA Championships
The 2025 season was one for the history books for the Knights. Not only did they capture their first Big 12 title, the first Big 12 Postseason Championship in UCF history, but they also finished a program-record 15th in the NCAA Championship.
This Season
The Knights are starting where they left off last season at #15 in the CRCA Rankings.
Rowers to Watch
Hannah Lovejoy
Last season, Hannah Lovejoy became the Knights’ first All-American honoree since Julie Poulsen in 2019.
This season, she’s back for her senior campaign.
Brigitte Kappler and Luna Kuiper
Both Brigitte Kappler and Luna Kuiper join Lovejoy as returning All-Big 12 rowers from last season.
Check out the Banneret’s 2026 Rowing Media Day Playlist for more Media Day interviews.
New Faces To Know
Julia Schultz
Schultz is the Knights’ lone addition from the transfer portal over the offseason, coming from Mercyhurst.
Roster Breakdown
- 17 Freshman
- 16 Sophomores
- 15 Juniors
- 9 Seniors
- 2 Fifth Years
- International Rowers (Denmark, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Canada, France, Spain, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Serbia, Hungary and Finland)
Schedule
The Last Time…
UCF made it to consecutive NCAA Championships: 2015-2019.
