Former Big Red rower and Ithaca native Cecelia Madsen ‘12 is back in the Cornell boathouse, joining the Big Red as an assistant coach for the women's program prior to the 2019-20 season. Madsen previously served as an assistant coach for the men's lightweight rowing program from 2016-18 and the women’s rowing program during the 2012-13 season, assisting with the varsity squad and working primarily with the third and fourth varsity eight boats.
As a rower with the Big Red, Madsen was named second-team CRCA All-American following her senior season. She stroked the varsity eight boat that placed 11th overall at the 2012 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship. She was also named second-team All-Ivy after helping Cornell to a silver medal in the varsity eight race at the Ivy League Championship. She was a two-time first-team CRCA All-Mid Atlantic Regional selection, earning the honor in 2010 and 2012.
During her junior season, Madsen stroked the varsity eight to a great season with wins against Yale, Harvard and Dartmouth. The crew was consistently ranked in the top 20, reaching as high as No. 10.
As a sophomore, she stroked the varsity eight and helped the Big Red to its first national ranking in more than five years and narrowly missed out on an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. She also stroked the novice eight crew to the bronze medal at the 2009 Eastern Sprints.
