Following a vote by the league's head coaches, the Liberty League has announced its Women’s Rowing major award recipients for the 2025-26 season.
CREW OF THE YEAR: Varsity Eight, William Smith College
The William Smith Varsity Eight was named the 2025-26 Liberty League Crew of the Year after leading the Herons to their first Liberty League women’s rowing title since 2016 at the 2026 championship. The William Smith V8+ opened the league regatta by advancing to the V8+ Final with a nearly 20-second victory in the opening heat, posting a time of 7:10.840. In the Final, the final event of the championship, the Herons jumped out to a fast start over the first 100 meters of the race and maintained their lead throughout the race, crossing the finish line in 6:52.172 to win the 2026 title by nine seconds. With the 2026 title, the Herons earned the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships. The William Smith V8+ consists of coxswain Lizzy Whitney, Linnea Darius, Kate Abdalla, Raya Schwartz, Alessandra Gialanella, Aubrey Ryan, Eden Grim, Leah Wiebe, and Meghan Bartholomay. This season, the Herons placed third at the New York State Championships, finishing behind two Division I crews, and clocking a time of 7:23.159. They also swept head-to-head races against league rivals Ithaca and RIT and placed sixth out of 19 at the National Invitational Rowing Championships (NIRC) with a time of 7:24.956.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: William Smith College
William Smith College Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen, along with assistant coach Callista Crisonino, were recognized with Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors after guiding the Herons to their first conference title since 2016. William Smith claimed the 2026 Liberty League Championship with a victory in the Varsity Eight race, and the Herons also earned wins in the Second Varsity Eight and Third Varsity Eight races. In the V8+, the Herons won by nine seconds, crossing the finish line in 6:52.172. William Smith easily won its second consecutive Liberty League 2V8+ race with a time of 7:15.818 and a commanding 18-second margin of victory. It was a two-boat duel in the 3V8+ between William Smith and Ithaca, where the Herons were again triumphant, winning with a time of 7:29.311. In the Open 4+, William Smith finished runner-up among four boats with a time of 8:32.605. By virtue of the Liberty League’s automatic bid, William Smith is now headed to the NCAA Division III Championship (May 29-30) at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia. The Herons will be making their 14th trip to NCAAs and their first appearance since 2016.