Good Sports

This year’s spring semester was UCF’s greatest undertaking in school history as all 16 varsity sports were in action after most traditional fall sports were pushed back.

Summer 2021 | By Jenna Marina Lee

The Knights are accustomed to busy spring competitions, but this year’s spring semester was UCF’s greatest undertaking in school history. That’s because all 16 varsity sports were in action after COVID-19 prompted the NCAA, and then the American Athletic Conference, to push its traditional fall sports — with the exception of football — into the spring. The Knights rose to the challenge and delivered outstanding performances across the board in the classroom and on the field, court and track.

29.25
Points to win the the War on I-4 rivalry series for the fifth straight year

27
Consecutive semesters with a department GPA of 3.0 or better

12.64
Seconds it took Rayniah Jones to run the 100-meter hurdles in the first round at the USA Track & Field Olympic Team Trials, resetting her school record

9
Teams represented in NCAA postseason

5
Knights drafted to the NFL, a program record

5
American Athletic Conference Championship titles in a 23-day span

2nd
Place at the UCA National Championship, marking the 26th time over the last 28 years the cheerleading team has finished among the top 10

Cheerleading team during a performance, three flyers in the air as their spotters prepare to catch them

The UCF cheerleading team proved once again to be among the elite programs in the country with their runner-up performance at the UCA National Championship in April. (Photo by Chris Schubert)

Four members of the men's soccer team clasp hands and raise arms above their heads in celebration

After making their second consecutive run to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, the UCF men’s soccer team finished the season ranked No. 13 nationally.

UCF men's tennis head coach John Roddick gets water dumped on him by three athletes in celebration of a championship

Under the guidance of Director of Tennis John Roddick, the UCF men’s tennis team earned its first title as part of the American Athletic Conference and its fourth in program history.

Volleyball team gathers for a photo in front of the net on the court while holding American Athletic Conference champions signs

As the winners of the American Athletic Conference, the volleyball team secured an automatic bid to their 11th NCAA Tournament in school history.

Women's tennis player clinches fist in celebration on the court

The women’s tennis team repeated as conference champions, marking the first time in over 20 years that the Knights won back-to-back titles.

Portrait of Rayniah Jones in the starting blocks, framed by a tunnel of hurdles lined up in front of her

For every hurdle lined up in front of Rayniah Jones, she only sees an opportunity to excel. The criminal justice major had a breakout season as the American Athletic Conference’s 100-meter hurdles champion, AAC Freshman of the Year, NCAA All-American and USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials competitor.

“I am extremely proud of our student-athletes and coaches for their incredible achievement this year considering the immense challenges and uncertainty that the pandemic presented week to week. They certainly made my first months on the job memorable.”
Terry Mohajir, vice president and director of athletics