Following a strong performance on Lake Quinsigamond last weekend, the William Smith rowing team moved up four spots to eighth in this week's CRCA/Pocock Poll. This is the highest ranking for the Herons since they were eighth back in 2019.
 
Last weekend in Worcester, Massachusetts, William Smith took on a field that was comprised of five nationally-ranked crews. The Herons' varsity eight and second varsity eight finished third in their respective grand finals and the third varsity eight was fourth. 
 
William Smith's varsity eight, which was powered by Ava Lee, Isabella De Nes, Leah Viebe, Kate Abdalla, Grace Jung, Meghan Bartholomay, Linnea Darius, Alayna Wian and Olivia Sainsbury, was named to the Liberty League weekly honor roll following its third place finish in a field that included then No. 4 Trinity, No. 5 Bates, No. 8 Wellesley and No. 9 Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Herons traversed the 2,000-meter course in  6:56.23, beating WPI by three seconds and Wellesley by 11 seconds.
 
The Herons will be back on the water on Saturday, April 19, when they head to Saratoga Springs, New York, for the New York State Championships. William Smith will have entries in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and third varsity eight races. Racing begins at 9 a.m.
 
Last year William Smith finished sixth in the varsity eight, eighth in the second varsity eight and fourth in the third varsity eight.