May 29, 2007

GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith crew team enjoyed a very successful season and was justly rewarded with two of the Liberty League’s three end of season awards. The Heron varsity eight was tabbed the conference’s Crew of the Year, while Head Coach Sandra Chu and her staff were voted the Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Herons won seven of the 13 events they entered this season, including their third consecutive Liberty League Championship. William Smith followed its conference championship with a gold medal performance at the New York State Championships. The Heron varsity eight won six of the 12 Liberty League Boat of the Week Awards this season. William Smith finished fifth in the grand final of the NCAA Championship, the team’s first NCAA bid since 2002.

Sophomore Kenzie Cannon (Berkshire/Canaan, Conn.), junior stroke Hannah Gallup (Holy Names/Alameda, Calif.), senior Nicole Balsamo (Newton Country Day/Centerville, Mass.), sophomore Anne Wakeman (Lawrence Academy/Marlboro, Mass.), senior Lauren Brady (Westover School/Ridgefield, Conn.), junior Lucinda Keck (The Lawrenceville School/Pennington, N.J.), sophomore Kerry O’Neill (Brighton/Rochester, N.Y.), junior Jenn Kirst (Principia/Darien, Conn.), and senior bow Michelle Dodge (St. Paul’s School/Jackson, N.H.) ended the regular season ranked first in the New York Region by the NCAA Rowing Committee.

Now in her fifth year at the helm, Chu guided the Herons to their third consecutive Liberty League Championship. William Smith’s varsity eight was ranked as high as second in the nation by the CRCA Coaches Poll, while the team and the varsity eight ended the regular season No. 1 according to the NCAA Rowing Committee Regional Rankings. William Smith crews won 10 out of a possible 12 Liberty League Boat of the Week Awards this season. Chu was assisted by Kristina Latta-Landefeld and Ford Weiskittel.

Chu’s staff has been voted the League’s best in all four years the award has been presented.

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