ROCHESTER, N.Y.-The No. 10 William Smith College rowing team swept races against Rochester at Genesee Valley Park this afternoon. The Herons prevailed in both the varsity and second varsity eight races.
 
"We are so glad to have had this racing opportunity with our Liberty League colleagues," Head Coach Sandra Chu said. "Conditions were great and both of our boats were able to hone their racing skills today. I was proud of the way the crews executed our goal of hunting for larger margins throughout the entire race."
 
Races were run with the current on a 1900 meter course. The varsity eight of 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 took command of the race off the start, establishing an open water lead by the stroke rate shift. The Herons crossed the line with a time of 6:17.64. Rochester finished with a time of 6:46.30.
 
William Smith's 2V8 had similar success against the Yellowjackets. They were quick off the line and then continued lengthening their lead. Junior Elisabeth Rowedder, junior Catherine DiCara, first-year Emma Bilton, sophomore Alexandra Deku, junior Emma Lubrano, first-year Freya Birkas-Dent, senior Tatiana Loftus, first-year Scott McClearn, and senior Tori Wissa powered the boat down the 1900 meter course to a time of 6:52.85. Rochester stopped the clock with a time of 7:20.29.
 
"The 2V raced under the additional challenge of a new lineup," Chu said. "I think they handled the lineup switch very well and demonstrated marked improvements in power, composure, and stability."
 
William Smith will be back in action next Saturday, April 13, when it travels to take on No. 12 Hamilton. Eleventh-ranked RIT and No. 6 Smith will also be in Clinton, N.Y. next Saturday.