UCF Rowing Looks to Build on Historic 2025 Season

Knights return key rowers as they aim for another Big 12 title and NCAA Championship berth

Mar. 3, 2026 at 2:31am by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The UCF Knights Rowing team is coming off a historic 2025 season that saw them capture their first-ever Big 12 title and finish a program-best 15th at the NCAA Championships. Led by third-year head coach Mara Allen, the Knights return several key rowers including All-American Hannah Lovejoy and All-Big 12 selections Brigitte Kappler and Luna Kuiper as they look to build on that success in 2026.

Why it matters

UCF's rowing program has steadily improved since its inception, but the 2025 season marked a major breakthrough for the Knights. Their Big 12 title and strong NCAA finish put the program on the national map and have raised expectations for continued success. As one of the newer rowing programs in the country, UCF's continued development could have implications for the sport's growth and competitiveness.

The details

In her third season as head coach, Mara Allen has the Knights primed for another strong campaign. Last year's Big 12 title was the first conference championship in any sport for UCF since joining the league in 2013. The Knights also set a program record with their 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. This season, they return several key contributors, including senior All-American Hannah Lovejoy, juniors Brigitte Kappler and Luna Kuiper (both All-Big 12 selections), and a talented group of newcomers that includes transfer Julia Schultz and 17 freshmen.

  • The Knights open their 2026 season on March 13 with a home regatta against Jacksonville.
  • UCF will compete at the Sarasota 2K (March 27-28), Ohio State Invite (April 3-4), and Orlando Invite (April 17-18) before the Big 12 Championship on May 17 in Sarasota.

The players

Mara Allen

In her third season as head coach of the UCF rowing team, Allen previously won eight Big 12 titles and two NCAA Championships as an assistant at the University of Texas.

Hannah Lovejoy

The senior rower was UCF's first All-American honoree since 2019 and was named the 2025 Big 12 Rower of the Year.

Brigitte Kappler

The junior rower was an All-Big 12 selection in 2025 and will be a key contributor again this season.

Luna Kuiper

Also an All-Big 12 pick in 2025, the sophomore rower will look to build on a strong debut season for the Knights.

Julia Schultz

The sophomore transfer from Mercyhurst is one of the new faces to watch for UCF this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must continue to build on the success of last season and push ourselves to an even higher level. Our goal is to compete for championships and cement UCF as one of the top rowing programs in the country.”

— Mara Allen, Head Coach

What’s next

The Knights will look to carry their momentum from 2025 into the 2026 season, with the Big 12 Championship on May 17 in Sarasota serving as a key milestone. A strong performance there could secure UCF another NCAA Championship berth.

The takeaway

UCF's rowing program has made remarkable strides in a short period of time, culminating in a historic 2025 season. With several key contributors back and a talented group of newcomers, the Knights appear poised to remain one of the top emerging programs in the sport as they aim for more championships and NCAA tournament appearances.