Eight members of the William Smith rowing team have been recognized as 2025-26 Scholar-Athletes by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association, marking the second consecutive year the Herons have placed eight student-athletes on the prestigious list.
The CRCA Scholar-Athlete program honors more than 1,000 rowers across all three NCAA divisions who have excelled both academically and athletically. To qualify, student-athletes must be in at least their second year of eligibility, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and compete in an NCAA-eligible boat.
William Smith’s honorees are Meghan Bartholomay, an economics major from Rochester; Linnea Darius, a biology major from Bethesda, Maryland; Ainsley Kimball, an education and psychology major from Holden, Massachusetts; Lily Liflander, a history major from Sleepy Hollow; Nora Smith, a public health major from Rochester; Lizzy Whitney, a business management and entrepreneurial studies major from Schuylerville; Alayna Wian, a physics major from Schuylerville; and Leah Wiebe, a biochemistry major from Raleigh, North Carolina.
“Balancing the demands of collegiate rowing and academics requires tremendous commitment, discipline, and support,” said CRCA Executive Director Janet Raymer. “These scholar-athletes have demonstrated excellence not only in competition, but also in the classroom.”
Bartholomay, Smith, Whitney, Wian, and Wiebe earned the honor for the second straight year, while Darius also previously received the award in 2024.
The academic recognition caps another successful season for the Herons. William Smith finished third in the final CRCA Division III poll after placing third in the team standings at the NCAA Rowing Championships. The varsity eight earned a bronze-medal finish, while the second varsity eight placed fourth nationally. The Herons also captured their 10th Liberty League Championship, winning three gold medals at the conference regatta.
