WORCESTER, Mass.-The William Smith College rowing team competed in the National Invitational Rowing Championship on Lake Quinsigamond today. The Herons varsity eight and varsity four turned in top 10 finishes.
 
As if the caliber of competition at the NIRC regatta was not enough, Mother Nature had a say in today's racing as well. Racing was contested in temperatures in the low 40's and a bone chilling rain.
 
William Smith's varsity four was on the water first.  The Herons progressed to the grand final after finishing a strong second in their morning heat. The University of New Hampshire won, crossing the line first with a time of 8:04.655. Senior Hannah Baron, junior Annika Linden, senior Tatiana Loftus, senior Madelaine Hamilton, and first-year Hannah Bilton posted a time of 8:26.833. Williams earned the final qualifying spot, crossing the line third.
 
In the grand finale, Baron, Linden, Loftus, Hamilton and Bilton finished sixth with a time of 8:57.17. Bates won the race with the Wildcats and Wellesley, rounding out the podium.
 
"This was the first time this line-up competed this season," Head Coach Sandra Chu said. "A resolved injury allowed us to put together a line-up of people who had similar stroke profiles and the boat really started moving well over the last week. They had a stellar performance in the heats, rowing long, confidentl,y and making all of the changes we've been asking for this season. I think they have truly grown this season in spite of adversity and their rowing demonstrated this today."
 
William Smith's second varsity eight progressed to the third level final after crossing the line sixth in their heat. They came off the line and, less than 500 meters in, caught a crab on each side of the boat that stopped them dead in the water, dropping them from contending for third to last.
 
In the afternoon, the Herons went up against Liberty League opponent St. Lawrence, Clark, Mt. Holyoke, Connecticut College, and Simmons. The Herons finished second, holding off a strong press from Clark. Junior Elisabeth Rowedder, junior Tori Malamas, first-year Emma Bilton, junior Catherine DiCara, junior Emma Lubrano, first-year Scott McClearn, sophomore Alexandra Deku, first-year Freya Birkas-Dent, and senior Tori Wissa crossed the line with a time of 7:37.967. The Herons were 14th overall.
 
"While we did not have the race we wanted in the heat, we did achieve our goal of finishing higher than our seeding," said Chu. "I am proud of the way they were able to reset for the afternoon and not let what was a very disappointing heat impact their confidence. Instead, they were able to capitalize on the pivotal practices they'd been having at home and use some of the racing scenarios we'd practiced to respond successfully to Clark and the rest of the field."
 
The Herons varsity eight, which was ranked ninth in the nation in the latest coaches poll, was pitted against No. 3 Wellesley, No. 4 Ithaca, No. 11 Tufts, UNH and Mount Holyoke in the morning heat. The Blue and the Bombers advanced to the Grand Finals. William Smith and the Jumbos progressed to the petite final. William Smith crossed the line with a time of 6:59.159.
 
In the petite final William Smith was pitted against No. 6 Smith, No. 8 Williams, Tufts, No. 15 Colby and Trinity.  The Herons put together a strong race and finished third, ninth overall. 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 the boat down the course to a time of 7:06.157, .080 ahead of the Jumbos varsity eight.  
 
"This has been a great season for the varsity eight," Chu said. "Every step of the way, they have kept reaching for a little more and have never sat on their laurels or backed down from the opportunities to improve and excel. We did lose to Tufts in the morning heat and I think it's always easy to say that you could have won but not easy to actually come back in the afternoon and do just that. It was a hard won victory and one that is indicative of the heart of the team."