October 2, 2006

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith crew first novice eight was named the Liberty League’s first Boat of the Week this season. The Herons bested Ithaca College in a pair of races on the Seneca-Cayuga Canal on Saturday.

Racing over a distance of 1,000 meters, William Smith crossed the line first, defeating the Bombers’ first novice eight by 13.7 seconds. In the second race, the Herons beat the Ithaca to the line again, this time by 4.3 seconds.

The Herons’ first novice eight was powered by sophomore Kristen Yerkie (Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/Vernon, N.Y.) and first-years Abbie DiPalma (Portsmouth Abbey School/Middleton, R.I.), Collette Gregoire (Cortland/Cortland, N.Y.), Megan Andrews (Mt. Anthony Union/Bennington, Vt.), Jamie Billington (Rye/Rye, N.Y.), Rachel MacElhenney (Perkiomen School/Schwenksville, Pa.), Laura Valdmanis (Prior Lake/Prior Lake, Minn.), Meghan Schmidt (West Windsor-Plainsboro/Princeton Junction, N.J.), and Jamie Rasmussen (Montclair, N.J.).

William Smith is back on the water on Oct. 8, when the Herons participate in the Head of the Genesee.

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