ITHACA, N.Y.—The 12th-ranked William Smith rowing team returned to the Cayuga Inlet for the second straight week. The Herons competed against the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology this morning.
 
Competing in the first, second and third varsity eight races, the Herons won every piece in their return to the Cayuga Inlet. All five races were contested on the 2,000-meter Cayuga Inlet course.
 
Conditions in the first session were steady, rain, strong tail, wind, and flat water. In the second session, the rain stopped while the winds continued with good water as well.
 
VARSITY EIGHT:

• The Heron's 1V was driven by Ava Lee, Meghan Bartholomay, Olivia Sainsbury, Isabella De Nes, Leah Wiebe, Kate Abdalla, Grace Jung, Alayna Wian, and Linnea Darius.
• In its first race, William Smith took on Rochester. The Herons held a sizable lead 700- meters in and continued to pull away, posting a 26 second lead. William Smith stopped the clock with a time of 7:00.1.
• In their second race, the varsity eight took a decisive lead within the first 400- meter against RIT. William Smith pulled away for a winning margin of 31 seconds. The Herons crossed the line in 6:56.3.

 
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT:

• The Herons were represented in 2V8 by Lizzy Whitney, Aubrianna Ryan, Syd Morrison, Emily Clark, Lily Liflander, Nora Smith, Ainsley Kimball, Olivia Helms, and Lily Keefe.
• The Herons took Rochester by surprise with an explosive start, winning their race against the Yellow Jackets by 42 seconds. William Smith posted a time of 7:07.9.
• Against RIT's 2V8, the Herons took off immediately from the start once again to secure their win. William Smith finished the race with a 35 second advantage with a time of 7:18.9.

 
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT

• Michaela Greco, Janeciah Cunningham, Anna Pedone, Alessandra Gialanella, Emma Burger, Dani Krenzer, Madeline Wasner, Mariee Voss, and Grace Ann Tyne.
• William Smith's 3V only competed in the morning session. The Herons raced against Ithaca. For the second straight week, William Smith beat the Bombers, stopping the clock at 7:46.8.

 
COACH'S CORNER
"Today was a great day to be a Heron," Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen said! "Today, the team raced against the University of Rochester in the first session and RIT in the second session. These races showcased complete races from our crews. I was particularly impressed with the middle of each crews race; not only did they get off the starting line well, but they held their racing rhythms and speeds throughout the body of the race which resulted in significant margins of victory. Thanks to our hosts from Ithaca College for providing a great opportunity to test ourselves against league rivals and tough competitors from Rochester."
 
UP NEXT
William Smith will be back in action next Sunday, April 13, when it heads to Worcester, Massachusetts to take on ninth-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute.