Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

Hobart and William Smith Logo
William Smith rowing
EILEEN COBB '28

Herons compete at NIRCs

5/12/2025 3:05:00 PM

By: Eileen Cobb '28
WORCESTER, Mass.—The seventh-ranked William Smith Rowing traveled to Lake Quinsigamond on Sunday, May 11, to compete in the National Invitational Rowing Championship. The Herons finished sixth in the Women's Point Trophy standings.
 
Conditions on the 2,000-meter course started with a cross tailwind that increased from the morning to the early afternoon. Conditions calmed around finals.
 
Racing against a field that included nine of the top 10 teams in the country, William Smith competed in the varsity, second varsity and third varsity eight events. The Herons won two petite finals and earned 117 points towards the team trophy, finishing two spots ahead of Ithaca.
 
VARSITY EIGHT
  • The Heron's 1V was powered by Ava Lee, Meghan Bartholomay, Leah Wiebe, Kate Abdalla, Grace Jung, Cheyenne Muldowney, Oliva Sainsbury, Alayna Wian, and Linnea Darius.
  • In the morning heat, William Smith was paired with No. 1 Tufts and No. 6 Ithaca, No. 13 Skidmore, Mount Holyoke and St. Lawrence.
  • The Herons began their race with a fast start and held on to the Jumbos for the first 500 meters before Tufts began to pull away.
  • William Smith was unable to hold off Ithaca in the sprint, finishing third with a time of 6:40.952. The Herons progressed to the petite final as the top two boats secured a spot in the grand final.
  • The Herons took advantage of a tailwind in the petite final.
  • Hoping to make a mark in their afternoon races, the Herons had a quick start off the line, fighting with Skidmore and WPI. William Smith found its base, passing WPI at the 500 meter mark and fought hard with Skidmore until the flag,
  • The Herons won the Petite Final with a time of 6:45.366, just over a second ahead of the Thoroughbreds.
 
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
  • The William Smith 2V8 was rowed by Lizzy Whitney, Aubrianna Ryan, Syd Morrison, Olivia Helms, Lily Liflander, Nora Smith, Raya Schwartz, Emily Clark, and Isabella De Nes.
  • In the heats, William Smith competed against Trintiy, Hamilton, Skidmore and Rochester.  
  • The 2V8 got off the line and found their base rate quickly afterwards in the first 500. The Herons tried to contest Smith but ultimately held their third place, posting a time of 6:59.356.
  • In the afternoon, the William Smith 2V8 lined up against WPI, Wellesley, Ithaca, Hamilton, and Coast Guard for their Petite Final.
  • Beginning with a powerful start, the Herons began with 41 strokes per minute, a high rate due to the increased tailwind. In the first 500, the William Smith boat rowed neck and neck with Wellesley with no definitive lead.
  • The William Smith boat used a strong sprint to pull a full length ahead, ending with a time of 6:56.170.
 
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
  • The Herons 3V8 was comprised of Michaela Greco, Ainsley Kimball, Anna Pedone, Lily Keefe, Janeciah Cunningham, Alessandra Gialanella, Emma Burger, Mariee Voss and Madeline Wasner.
  • The boat competed against Tufts, Williams, Smith WPI, and Conn College in the morning heat.
  • In an evenly spaced race, the Herons found a comfortable base behind Tufts and Williams.
  • William Smith finished fourth with a time of 7:31.053, winning a spot in the Petite Final.
  • In the afternoon, the 3V got off to a confident start, immediately holding onto Coast Guard and Wellesley.
  •  Ending with a time of 7:16.520, the Herons boat created open water in between them and WPI in the last 1000.
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm very proud of the progress our team made this year," Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen said.."Last year at this championship our team finished 12th overall. This year we finished sixth. The teams growth this year has been impressive. We benefited from having senior leadership in all crews supported by a young squad of ambitious racers. Our racing today was tactically complete, and the power they gave to each other throughout the race course drove our crews to their best races of the season in a field filled with the best teams in the country. These women have committed to becoming their best and it was a privilege to be with this team every day. We're proud that our process this year makes William Smith Rowing one of the best teams in DIII rowing! We are very excited for the team we built this year and the future we have in front of us!"
 
Print Friendly Version