WORCESTER, Mass-The ninth-ranked William Smith College rowing team was back on Lake Quinsigamond today. The Herons varsity and second varsity eights competed against WPI, Tufts, Clark, and Skidmore this morning.
 
The varsity eight was on the water first. Taking lessons from what they learned on Saturday, William Smith put forward an excellent race. Diminished winds and flat conditions allowed the Herons to close the margin against the top-ranked Engineers. Sophomore Susan Hurwitz, sophomore Molly Dexter, sophomore Taryn Wenberg, first-year Annie Wertheimer, sophomore Sarah Laferrera, sophomore Julia Walters, junior Anna Moreau, sophomore Emma Falkenstein and senior Lizzy Houston powered William Smith down the 2000-meter course to a time of 7:07.29. The hosts, WPI, won the race by 7.29 seconds. No. 7 Tufts was third, 11 seconds behind William Smith. Skidmore and Clark rounded out the field.
 
"We are always looking to improve, and for the 1V, today's race was a step that was much bigger than we anticipated," Head Coach Sandra Chu said. "They were incredibly courageous and disciplined at the same time, taking the big risks that pay out big rewards."
 
The second varsity eight took on Tufts, WPI and Clark twenty minutes later. The Jumbos won the race with a time of 7:15.9. The host Engineers were second, crossing the line 8.32 seconds later. The Herons were third. Junior Elisabeth Rowedder, junior Tori Malamas, sophomore Alexandra Deku, junior Catherine DiCara, junior Emma Lubrano, first-year Scott McClearn, senior Tatiana Loftus, first-year Freya Birkas-Dent, and first-year Emma Bilton posted a time of 7:44.36. The Cougars rounded out the field.
 
"The 2V also came off the line blazing," Chu said. "They rowed the most bold we've ever seen. I am very excited about how this sets us up for the next two weeks."
 
William Smith will be back on the water on May 3, when it heads to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the Liberty League Championships.