
Senior Class Guides Women's Rowing
4/2/2015 10:11:00 AM | Women's Rowing
The Orange is looking to participate in its first NCAA Championships since 2005
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The senior class of the 2014-15 Syracuse University women's rowing team was the first class recruited by head coach Justin Moore. This group of women made the commitment to help transform this program and are looking to place an exclamation point at the end of their collegiate careers.
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Moore came to Syracuse with a heralded background, guiding Williams College to five consecutive NCAA Division III national championships, six total, and coaching the United States junior national team. He came in looking to return the Orange to national prominence. Undoubtedly, this senior class was a key piece in the puzzle.
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"I know what it means when you talk about your senior class," commented Moore. "It means that the sun is dipping to the horizon and about to set on their careers. I don't even want to think about this senior class graduating."
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This class has helped transformed Syracuse into one of the premier programs in the nation. Entering the spring season, the Orange was ranked No. 17 in the nation in the Preseason Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing Coaches Poll. The team is looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2005.
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"To be the first class means we have helped changed the culture," senior coxswain Katherine Isaza said. "We have made it a top-20 team. That to us was one of our biggest goals. Now, we are looking to make it a top-15 team."
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This group of student-athletes entered Syracuse University in the fall of 2011. In their first racing season, the class helped the Orange to a second-place finish at the 2012 BIG EAST Championships. Amy Ludovici, a freshman at the time, helped guide the varsity four boat to a first-place showing. It marked the first varsity boat to win a gold medal at the conference championship since 2005. With that, one could see that the seeds were in place.
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"Coach Moore portrayed this class, the Class of 2015, as a class of people who really wanted to be champions," senior Caroline Habjan stated. "I wanted to be a part of that. Our mission at Syracuse the entire time we have been here has been to elevate this team, elevate this program."
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The transformation of the program continued as the group moved into their sophomore campaigns. Syracuse received votes in every ranking release of the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll during the 2013 season. After the varsity eight crew placed second at the BIG EAST Championship, the Orange ended the year ranked No. 19 in the country, the program's highest ranking in eight years.
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"This program has shown incredible growth since I was a freshman here," senior Georgia Hamilton added. "Whether it is mentally, physically, or socially, we are stronger as a team. There is so much cohesiveness."
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The expectations were high entering their junior seasons. Syracuse was ranked No. 19 nationally in the preseason coaches' poll. It marked its highest preseason ranking in 10 years.
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Chelsea Frawley transferred to Syracuse in the fall of 2013, becoming a late addition to Class of 2015. The group immediately made the Melbourne, Australia native comfortable in her new surroundings. Frawley became an immediate contributor, eventually earning a seat in the varsity eight boat.
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"I came last year and knew no one, but instantly became part of this class." said Frawley. "There is such a great connection between ourselves, whether it is on the field or off the field."
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The 2014 season marked one of the most successful years in program history. The Orange peaked at No. 16 in the coaches' poll, its highest appearance since 2005. Syracuse finished in third place in its first-ever ACC Championships, narrowly missing its first NCAA Championships appearance in nine years.
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Now, the group has reached its final collegiate rowing season. Syracuse looks to be one of the 22 teams in the field for the 2015 NCAA Championships in Gold River, Calif. The team looks to carry over the success it had in the fall season and will begin its pursuit this weekend when it opens its season at Nordic Nine in Ithaca, N.Y.
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"They have really lifted the standard," concluded Moore. "We went to Princeton (in the fall) and finished in third place. We beat Yale, who is currently ranked sixth in the country. After that race they articulated, 'If we could do that, we wonder what else we can do."
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Moore came to Syracuse with a heralded background, guiding Williams College to five consecutive NCAA Division III national championships, six total, and coaching the United States junior national team. He came in looking to return the Orange to national prominence. Undoubtedly, this senior class was a key piece in the puzzle.
Â
"I know what it means when you talk about your senior class," commented Moore. "It means that the sun is dipping to the horizon and about to set on their careers. I don't even want to think about this senior class graduating."
Â
This class has helped transformed Syracuse into one of the premier programs in the nation. Entering the spring season, the Orange was ranked No. 17 in the nation in the Preseason Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing Coaches Poll. The team is looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2005.
Â
"To be the first class means we have helped changed the culture," senior coxswain Katherine Isaza said. "We have made it a top-20 team. That to us was one of our biggest goals. Now, we are looking to make it a top-15 team."
Â
This group of student-athletes entered Syracuse University in the fall of 2011. In their first racing season, the class helped the Orange to a second-place finish at the 2012 BIG EAST Championships. Amy Ludovici, a freshman at the time, helped guide the varsity four boat to a first-place showing. It marked the first varsity boat to win a gold medal at the conference championship since 2005. With that, one could see that the seeds were in place.
Â
"Coach Moore portrayed this class, the Class of 2015, as a class of people who really wanted to be champions," senior Caroline Habjan stated. "I wanted to be a part of that. Our mission at Syracuse the entire time we have been here has been to elevate this team, elevate this program."
Â
The transformation of the program continued as the group moved into their sophomore campaigns. Syracuse received votes in every ranking release of the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll during the 2013 season. After the varsity eight crew placed second at the BIG EAST Championship, the Orange ended the year ranked No. 19 in the country, the program's highest ranking in eight years.
Â
"This program has shown incredible growth since I was a freshman here," senior Georgia Hamilton added. "Whether it is mentally, physically, or socially, we are stronger as a team. There is so much cohesiveness."
Â
The expectations were high entering their junior seasons. Syracuse was ranked No. 19 nationally in the preseason coaches' poll. It marked its highest preseason ranking in 10 years.
Â
Chelsea Frawley transferred to Syracuse in the fall of 2013, becoming a late addition to Class of 2015. The group immediately made the Melbourne, Australia native comfortable in her new surroundings. Frawley became an immediate contributor, eventually earning a seat in the varsity eight boat.
Â
"I came last year and knew no one, but instantly became part of this class." said Frawley. "There is such a great connection between ourselves, whether it is on the field or off the field."
Â
The 2014 season marked one of the most successful years in program history. The Orange peaked at No. 16 in the coaches' poll, its highest appearance since 2005. Syracuse finished in third place in its first-ever ACC Championships, narrowly missing its first NCAA Championships appearance in nine years.
Â
Now, the group has reached its final collegiate rowing season. Syracuse looks to be one of the 22 teams in the field for the 2015 NCAA Championships in Gold River, Calif. The team looks to carry over the success it had in the fall season and will begin its pursuit this weekend when it opens its season at Nordic Nine in Ithaca, N.Y.
Â
"They have really lifted the standard," concluded Moore. "We went to Princeton (in the fall) and finished in third place. We beat Yale, who is currently ranked sixth in the country. After that race they articulated, 'If we could do that, we wonder what else we can do."
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