The Hobart and William Smith rowing teams will begin their 2025-26 campaigns on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they head to Rochester, New York, for the Head of the Genesee Regatta.
 
The Herons, who finished last year ranked seventh in the final Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Poll of the season, return 26 athletes from last season. That group includes 16 of the 18 that competed in the two boats at last year's Liberty League and National Invitational Rowing Championships.
 
All-Liberty League selections, Meghan Bartholomay and Leah Wiebe, highlight the returning group after earning first team recognition last year. They were members of the Herons' varsity eight that nabbed silver medals at the Liberty League Championship.
 
Hobart and William Smith Director of Rowing and Heron Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen is back for his fifth season in charge of William Smith. He has mentored 10 All-Liberty League selections and four Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-Americans. In the classroom, his charges have earned 55 Liberty League All-Academic Awards and 24 CRCA National Scholar-Athlete Awards.
 
Last year at the Head of the Genesee, William Smith won six medals, including golds in the varsity pair and the varsity four. This year, the Herons will race in four different events, starting with the Womens Collegiate 4+ at 10 a.m.  The Collegiate 8+ events will conclude the schedule, starting at 1:40 p.m.
 
Hobart which finished 2024-25 23rd in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Ten Eyck team points standings is also a veteran-heavy team, returning 32 athletes from last year. The Statesmen had 10 athletes earn IRCA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Hobart finished sixth at the NIRCs, collecting a silver medal in the third varsity eight race and a bronze in the varsity four.
 
In addition to the strong group of returning athletes, Head Coach Chris Kerber is back for his third season in charge of the Statesmen.
 
Hobart will be making its first trip to the Head of the Genesee since 2014. The Statesmen are scheduled to compete in five events on Saturday, starting with the Men's Collegiate 4 at 10:15 a.m.