For the fourth time this spring, William Smith's varsity eight was named the Liberty League Boat of the Week by the conference office.
 
The Herons have dominated the Liberty League Boat of the Week awards this season. William Smith has won all nine awards presented. The varsity eight has been recognized six times, the second varsity eight won twice and the varsity four was recognized following the Head of the Charles Regatta.
 
On Sunday, in Worcester, Massachusetts, William Smith's varsity eight, which was powered by Lizzy Whitney, Linnea Darius, Kate Abdalla, Raya Schwartz, Alessandra Gialanella, Aubrey Ryan, Eden Grim, Leah Wiebe and Meghan Bartholomay, finished sixth in a 19-boat field that included 14 of the 15 teams ranked in the CRCA poll.
 
In the morning heats, William Smith traversed the 2,000-meter Lake Quinsigamond course with a time of 7:19.016. The Herons were second, securing a spot in the grand finals. No. 2 Bates won the heat. In the grand final, Whitney, Darius, Abdalla, Schwartz, Gialanella, Ryan, Grim, Wiebe and Bartholomay crossed the line with a time of 7:24.956. It was the Herons first time competeing in the grand final since 2013. 
 
The Herons also finished sixth in the second varsity eight race and were eighth in the 3V8. As a team, the Herons were seventh in the Women's Points Trophy Standings.
 
William Smith will be back in action at the end of the month, May 29-31, when it heads to Gainesville, Georgia, for the NCAA Division III Rowing Championships.