ROCHESTER,  N.Y.—The William Smith College rowing team began its 2023-24 season winning three gold medals at the Head of the Regatta at the Genesee Waterways Center today. The Herons posted the fastest time in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four races.
 
Crews raced against the clock down the 5-kilometer race course in a mild tail current and wind. In a typical structure of head style racing boats left the starting line one at a time.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Today was a good opener for the team," Hobart and William Smith Director of Rowing and Heron Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen said. "The team has been building their skill and fitness with focus and consistent effort. That showed up today on the racecourse. We've also been great in building our team and thriving together on and off the water. Coach Nielsen and I were proud of the way our team came together and the support shown for each other by the whole boathouse. We're excited to build on today in every way!"
 
VARSITY FOUR

• The varsity four races were the first out of the starting gate, beginning at 10 a.m.
• William Smith had three entries in the varsity four race, finishing first, fifth and ninth.
• The Herons' boat of Lizzy Whitney, Elisa Faiola, Cheyenne Muldowney, Linnea Darius and Olivia Helms stopped the clock at 20:20.379 to claim the gold medal. They beat the University of Rochester's top boat by just under 40 seconds.
• William Smith's second boat of Mary Baillos, Meghan Bartholomay, Leah Wiebe, Jane Bliss and Aubrianna Ryan were fifth, posting a time of 21:27.335.
• Michaela Greco, Anastasia McHayle, Olivia Sainsbury, Elizabeth Roser and Zaelin Secrest were ninth.

 
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT

• The Herons' 2V8 was on the water next, racing against boats from RIT and Rochester.
• Greco, Bartholomay, Sainsbury, Emily Clark, Janeciah Cunningham, Ainsley Kimball, Kendall Sundstrom, Ryan and Parker Condon, stopped the clock with a time of 19:39.064.
• Rochester Institute of Technology was second, finishing 53 seconds slower than William Smith.

 
VARSITY EIGHT

• William Smith rounded out the day's racing, posting a 20-second victory in a seven-team varsity eight race.
• Baillos, Helms, Faiola, Kate Abdalla, Raya Schwartz, Muldowney, Wiebe, Bliss and Darius, stopped the clock at 18:46.12 to claim the gold medal.
• The Yellowjackets were second and Rochester Institute of Technology claimed the bronze medal.

 
UP NEXT
The Herons will be back in action Oct. 22, when they head to Boston for the Head of the Charles Regatta.