The William Smith rowing team jumped up three spots to No. 3 in the final Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division III poll, which was released today, after matching the program's best finish at the NCAA Rowing Championships on May 29.
 
It's the highest national ranking for the Herons since they were No. 3 in April 2024.
 
The 2025-26 William Smith rowing season saw the Herons capture their 10th Liberty League Championship, bringing home gold medals in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and third varsity eight events. All three crews also medaled at the New York State Championships two weeks earlier, securing two silvers (2V, 3V) and a bronze (1V).
 
At the national championship regatta, the Herons' 1V and 2V both finished second in their preliminary heats, progressing to the grand final. In the championship race, the 1V notched a podium finish, spending most of the 2,000-meter race in second place before the Bobcats used a late sprint to clip William Smith by less than a second at the finish line. The 2V was fourth in its grand final.
 
National champion Tufts was No. 1 in the poll, followed by runner-up Bates at No. 2. After the Herons, Trinity (CT) and Williams rounded out the top five.
 
This year marked William Smith's eighth team appearance in the NCAA Championships (2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2026). The Herons have also sent at-large crews to the title chase five times (1997, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2014).