SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-The William Smith College rowing team wrapped up its fall season competing at the Head of the Fish today. The Herons varsity eight finished eighth and the second varsity eight finished 11th.
 
On one of the best weather days in the history of the Head of the Fish, the Heron's varsity eight took to the water first. Senior Elisabeth Rowedder, senior Anna Moreau, first-year Clare O'Connell, junior Micaela Deutsch, first-year Somer Ellis, first-year Elizabeth Rowland, sophomore Annie Wertheimer, senior Tori Malamas, and senior Catherine DiCara finished eighth overall in a field of 17, crossing the line with a time of 11:57.43. The Herons were fourth among the Division III boats in the field.  William Smith stopped the clock ahead of Liberty League foes, St. Lawrence and Union, and Division I entries from Canisius and Buffalo. MIT won the event, stopping the clock at 11:09.48.
 
"The boat felt good about their performance," Head Coach Sandra Chu said. "This race is a hybrid, 3,300 meters, which puts it in an odd place. It's definitely not a sprint, but it's also not a 5K. Our goal was to race edgy while retaining the technical changes we've made this season and we did a good job of that. Both the 1V and 2V looked solid coming down the course and we have been putting out good data in practices so we know that we're improving overall."
 
The second varsity eight was on the water next. The Herons finished 11th overall and were the fourth DIII boat to cross the line. First-year Lucy Tecca, sophomore Hannah Bilton, first-year Hayley Dineen, sophomore Scott McClearn, first-year Diamond Figueroa, sophomore Emma Bilton, first-year Vicky Karpowicz, first-year Katharina Fischer, and first-year Claudia White powered down the course to a time of 13:27.79.
 
"We've spent the fall developing a young squad," Chu added. "I am tremendously proud and excited about the way the team as a whole is rowing. I think we made a huge amount of progress in our technical and mental skills. The team made the task of incorporating 10 first years, of which three were true novices, into competitive racing boats look easy. This is a huge testament to their collective desire to go fast. We're day and night from where we were on the first day of practice and I don't think our results capture that, but every regatta is different and there was a very talented field here this year. I am very excited to see continued growth this spring, especially given the strength of our squad at the end of the spring last year."