Fifth-Year Focus

Lucy Pearce, Madeleine Holzman-Klima, and Maddy Horridge all chose to temporarily put their futures on hold for the opportunity to close their rowing careers on the water rather than let the COVID-19 pandemic that cancelled their senior season dictate the end to their Syracuse University career.

When the 2020 season ended the day before the team was set to depart Syracuse for the annual spring break training trip in Clemson, S.C., the trio was uncertain as to whether they would have an opportunity to return for a fifth year. While they awaited the decision, Pearce, Holzman-Klima, and Horridge all knew they would accept if the opportunity presented itself.

"I think I was in shock at first," Holzman-Klima said. "I was not able to comprehend that we were not going to race at all, and potentially myself and my classmates were never going to row ever again."

Utilizing the skills they had honed throughout their athletic careers helped them cope with the challenges of the pandemic and the grief they were feeling.

"Just the fact that I knew I could be going back kept me motivated," Horridge said. "I just had to keep telling myself that if the day does come, I'm going to say yes, and I have to be prepared. To then find out that I would have the opportunity made that motivation even more of a reality."

Last month the Orange achieved the highest ranking in program history after a strong performance at the Big Ten Invitational. Syracuse vaulted 12 spots in the national poll to eighth. The team maintained a position in the top 10 for three consecutive weeks. Pearce, Holzman-Klima and Horridge are all rowing in the Orange first varsity eight.

"I'm excited to race against traditionally higher-ranked teams because at the Big Ten Invitational we came closer to teams than we have ever before and it is a really awesome feeling," Pearce said. "I'm just so excited to see how far we can go heading into ACCs and, hopefully, the NCAAs."

Returning for a fifth year has provided the women with a newfound perspective and outlook on being a part of the rowing team.

"To see my teammates want to excel in the middle of hardship like COVID is really amazing," Horridge said. "To be able to take a step back and see how the team operates from a different angle is also really cool. Being able to go out and beat people that we haven't been able to beat before is something that I'm really excited about."

In addition to the opportunity to complete their rowing career on the water, all three women have taken advantage of the additional time on campus to further their academics.

"I'm studying for my master's degree in nutrition science, and I would love to be a dietitian," Pearce said. "This has really advanced me in my professional career. It is relevant to what I want to do. It has given me a new perspective and career paths as to what I can do. I can work in a hospital, work with athletes, or counsel people about the importance of nutrition and good health. It's really cool to have all of these options."

Horridge is also capitalizing on the extra time in the classroom to position herself for a career in sport.

"I'm in a certificate of intercollegiate athletic advising and support," Horridge said. "I'm really enjoying it. It's given me a different perspective on athletics which I would have never seen. Now with this degree, I can go into athletic administration or something related to that. I always wanted to keep the athletics side of me in my career, so this has been a nice opening into that. I am now pursuing opportunities in the business areas of athletics."

Holzman-Klima is using the opportunity to add a dimension to her undergraduate degree in a different academic program pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Study.

"I am studying information technology management in the iSchool," Holzman-Klima said. "I finished my undergrad in May with a mechanical engineering degree. I am interested in management and I thought it would be helpful to also have a background in IT. This can open more doors for me as I look for a career."

In a moment of reflection, Horridge recalled her emotions when she chose to attend Syracuse and what was ahead for her.

"In Australia, our school years are from January to November, so I had graduated eight months before I left for Syracuse, and during that period I had all of these people saying, 'This is such an amazing opportunity, you're going to meet so many people and make so many connections'," Horridge said. "Coming here and experiencing it, fulfilling the five years, it's been unbelievable."

The additional year with the Orange has fortified the bond with teammates and the sport.

"It's difficult to choose a specific highlight because I just love every experience and memory with this team," Pearce said. "From dancing in the locker room with the music on or just messing around to finishing second at ACCs as a team and the varsity four boat I was in during the 2019 season. That was probably one of my favorite seasons. We fight back from adversity. We do it for each other – for our teammates.

"Rowing is a crazy sport. Nothing is quite like it. I just fell in love with it. There are absolutely no star players, and as much as you would like to be one, every seat in the boat counts. What you do will always matter. I think that shows an awesome message."

At the peak of the season with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) this weekend and the goal of an NCAA Championship invitation on the horizon, Holzman-Klima is grateful to be Orange.

"I have grown a lot as a person while being at Syracuse and I have loved every minute of it," Holzman-Klima said. "Every aspect of rowing whether it be erg workouts, lift sessions or rowing in boats on the water, have great highlights, and they teach you a lot about yourself and how to handle uncomfortable situations."

Syracuse University Athletics

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