These Florida siblings both punched NCAA Championship tickets (one in golf)
These Florida siblings both punched NCAA Championship tickets (one in golf)
Punching one ticket to the NCAA Championships is a special moment.
For siblings Jake and Reese Springer, it was twice as nice after their historic sweep.
On May 14 in Urbana, Illinois, Jake Springer and the Troy men's golf team qualified for the NCAA Men's Golf Championships for the first time in the program's Division I history.
On May 18 in Sarasota, Reese Springer and the Central Florida women's rowing team claimed the program's first Big 12 Championship after a sweep of all races and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Rowing Championships for the seventh time in school history.
The former Chiles High athletes couldn't have been happier for each other and their respective teams.
"I am really proud of Jake. He has some of the strongest work ethic I've ever seen and it is really amazing to see it finally pay off for him," Reese Springer said. "And then to be able to turn around and do it for myself and teammates as well, here in Florida, it's really special. It's absolutely incredible that Jake and I are doing it (in NCAA) together."
Added Jake about his younger sister: "What Reese has accomplished is really amazing and I am so proud. To stick it out and do what they are doing – she could have easily said this isn't for me – is so impressive. I get to wake up, jump on a golf cart and hit golf balls. She's on the water every morning rowing and training every muscle in her body. It's incredible."
Former Chiles star Jake Springer helps Troy men's golf advance NCAA Championship
Neither Troy men's golf nor UCF women's rowing were guaranteed NCAA berths when the postseason started.
Jake Springer, a senior, helped the Trojans hold off No. 10 North Carolina and jump past No. 23 Texas Tech with an eagle 3 on the par-5 sixth hole to finish fourth in the team standings in the NCAA Urbana Regional at the Atkins Golf Course.
The Trojans, whose roster also includes sophomore and former Maclay golfer Lee Poppell, carded five birdies, an eagle and 10 pars over the final four holes to punch their NCAA Championship ticket.
Springer's eagle at No. 6, a 599-yard par 5, was punctuated by his 5-wood approach shot that hit the pin and landed inches from the hole. More dramatics awaited. Trailing Texas Tech by one stroke with the final two golfers on the course, Springer's par on the last hole guaranteed Troy's one-stroke advantage over the Red Raiders as they scored a double-bogey.
The top four teams from the Urbana regional advanced to the NCAA Championship (May 23-28) at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. Troy's NCAA Championship bid was the first by a Sun Belt program since Georgia Southern qualified in 2022.
Springer has played a pivotal role in the Trojans' golf ascent.
"We've been terrible, we've decent, we've been good at times (past four years). To see all sides of it - never making it, close to making it, to finally making it (NCAA Championship) - makes it that much more rewarding, " said Springer, who finished tied for fifth in the individual standings at the regional and boasts a career stroke average of 71.71.
Springer was just as productive in the classroom, where three weeks ago he was named the athletic department's Clements Award winner for the male student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average.
Troy was one of 30 teams to qualify for the NCAA Championship. The field also included No. 11 Florida State and Seminoles senior Patrick McMann, Springer's close friend and former Chiles teammate.
The Trojans closed out their historic season in 29th place. Springer tied with Poppell for 116th place in the individual standings at 13-over par. Springer shot a 2-over par 74 on his final day, capping the tourney, season and his career with a birdie on the par-5, 18th hole.
"Golf is a weird game," Springer explained.
"Sometimes you want to say (improvement) is because of this, that or XYZ. I think a big part has been our maturity, trusting what you are doing - what to do and what not to do. And it hasn't just been one guy, either. Everyone has taken a jump. The joy and satisfaction, to see all sides of the game the past four years, it has been amazing."
Reese Springer and UCF women's rowing set for NCAA Championship
The Knights' season has been one for the history books.
They made their first NCAA Championship appearance since a string of five consecutive berths from 2015 to 2019. They rose as high as to No. 14 in the CRCA Coaches poll and were one of 22 teams in the three-day title event that was held May 30-June 1 in West Windsor, New Jersey.
The Knights finished 15th overall.
UCF swept its way to the Big 12 Championship as the First 8+ crew that included Springer capped the day with a first-place victory and its season-best time at 6:22:.086 over the 1.24-mile course. For Springer, the win reflected a season-long climb. The sophomore started towards the bottom of the roster, worked her way back from injury and earned - and kept - one one of the most coveted seats on the team.
In the NCAA Championship, Springer and crew placed third in the C final at 6:23.115. The time secured a 15th place finish for the Knights as a whole and as a crew.
"I worked on my mental approach to practices and workouts but the biggest thing I think contributing to my success was keeping my head down and doing what I am fully capable of all day, every day," Springer said.
"Just focusing on myself, what I can contribute to the team, what little improvements I can make each day to get better. The consistency of it day in and day out has helped boost my confidence and it's proved to myself that I am much stronger than I realize and capable of anything I put my mind to."
UCF is one of nine teams that received an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship after winning their respective conference title. The Knights have also faced three of the 22 making the trip to Lake Mercer in Dartmouth, Tennessee and Texas.
Springer can't say enough about her teammates, describing the season as "special."
That also best describes the NCAA sweep by the Springer siblings.
"I am really proud our performance this past weekend (May 18), after the season we have had and everything we've been through together - doing it with this team just makes it so much more special," Springer said. "I am so excited for the future of this program, for the season we've had so far and for the seasons to come.
"We have something really special here.'
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