As dawn breaks over the Indian River Lagoon, the rhythmic splash of oars cuts through the still water—calm yet powerful, steady yet relentless, and, for Sydney Freiberger ’25, deeply familiar. Until her graduation this spring, the aerospace engineering graduate and former Florida Tech women’s rowing club president and team captain was the unshakable core of the women’s rowing team—a crew that refused to fade.
In the summer of 2022, Florida Tech reclassified women’s rowing from varsity to club status, a move that reshaped the program overnight. While many chose to walk away, Freiberger stayed. Then a rising sophomore, she was the only returning varsity athlete to remain with the team after the transition.
“I stayed because I really liked my coaches and the location—there aren’t many places where you can row year-round like here,” Freiberger said. “I’m really glad I stayed because I love my teammates—they’re all just really great.”
That fall, three freshmen—McKenna Barr, Ashton Clark and Brynn Romberger—joined her, forming the nucleus of a revitalized squad.
“During high school, I was offered a roster spot while the Florida Tech women’s rowing team was still a varsity program,” said Romberger, a civil engineering senior and incoming club president. “After meeting Coach Adam [Thorstad ’01] and visiting campus, I was excited for the opportunity to contribute to the team’s winning history.”
The quartet became the Varsity 4+—the main boat for the past three years—and together, they helped the program not just survive but thrive.
“They went undefeated in that boat the entire year,” said Thorstad, women’s rowing advisor and head coach. “Every race they went out, they won.”
That success wasn’t built from scratch. As a varsity sport, Florida Tech’s women’s rowing program won nine Sunshine State Conference women’s rowing championships, made multiple appearances at the NCAA Division II national championships, including a second-place finish in 2019, and regularly medaled at the Dad Vail Regatta, one of the most prestigious collegiate rowing events in the country.
But that championship mindset didn’t disappear when the varsity title did.
“Since day one, we told them that we’re going to train just like varsity athletes,” Thorstad said. “We’re going to expect them to be at practice and put the time in to make the gains. Them responding to that type of training is where they’ve benefited greatly.”
Through commitment and adaptability, the crew forged a new identity for Florida Tech women’s rowing. Their efforts paid off. The club more than doubled its membership from seven women at the end of the 2023-24 season to 15 for 2024-25.
And the results speak for themselves.
This past season, the team racked up podium finishes and defeated both club and varsity programs nationwide. Highlights include medaling in four events at the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta, earning gold and silver at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta, capturing the Margaret McNiff Trophy for a third straight year at the Dad Vail Regatta, and winning gold at the American Collegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta for a third consecutive year.
For Freiberger, finishing her collegiate career on top was the perfect send-off.
“Winning gold in my last race meant a lot to me because I wanted to maintain the momentum we’d been building all season,” Freiberger said. “Since it was my last race, I really just wanted us to perform as well as we could and finish strong.”
Freiberger’s drive to finish strong was the same energy she brought to every practice and every teammate.
“Sydney was a quiet leader, a lead-by-example type of person. But she did a great job getting out there and pushing herself every day, challenging herself and her teammates,” Thorstad said. “She’s a great athlete, and she approached each practice with a positive attitude.”
Freiberger’s rowing journey is far from over. After her standout college career, she was invited to spend the summer training with the elite Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast (ARION) program in Saratoga Springs, New York, a training ground for Olympic hopefuls.
“ARION is one of the best training programs in the country for women, so I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Freiberger said. “After that, I hope to make their elite year-round team. My ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics someday.”
Thorstad is excited to see what’s next for her.
“It’s going to be great to see, from afar, how she continues to grow and develop in the sport,” he said. “One of the big things about our sport is that it’s one of the few where you can start in college and still become an Olympian down the road. It’s a great opportunity to have, and however hard she’s willing to work is where she’s going to end up.”
Now rising seniors, Romberger, Clark and Barr—the same freshmen who joined Freiberger three years ago—are ready to lead the program forward.
“I’m excited for the upcoming year, when I’ll be leading the team as president,” Romberger said. “My main goals are to grow our team roster, continue building a strong and inclusive team culture, and maintain our competitive performance. I want to encourage more Florida Tech students, especially those new to rowing, to give it a try.
“Our team has proven that success comes from effort and teamwork, not just experience. I also hope to strengthen our connection with alumni and supporters who have helped keep the program alive. With continued dedication, I believe we can expand our reach and leave a lasting legacy for future rowers at Florida Tech.”
Details about Florida Tech women’s rowing can be found on the Florida Tech Athletics website.
