Six William Smith student-athletes earned a spot on the 2025-26 Academic All-District® NCAA Division III Women’s At-Large Team selected by College Sports Communicators. Heron lacrosse led the way with three selections: senior Caitie Baker (Brighton/Brighton, N.Y.) and juniors Kira Fulton (Cohasset/Cohasset, Mass.) and Janey Sypeck (Rumson-Fair Haven/Fair Haven, N.J.). William Smith rowing had two honorees: juniors Nora Smith (Brighton/Rochester, N.Y.) and Leah Wiebe (Cary Academy/Raleigh, N.C.). Junior bowler Colleen Jump (Dana L. West/Port Byron, N.Y.) rounded out the group.
To be nominated for Academic All-District consideration, student-athletes must be a starter or significant reserve, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. CSC member institutions can nominate up to six student-athletes per gender for at-large recognition. The top scholar-athletes in each district advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.
CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, football, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, baseball, softball, men’s track and field/cross country and women’s track and field/cross country. All other championship sports are eligible through the At-Large program.
Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship in May. She earned a spot on the 2026 Liberty League All-Academic Team and the 2025 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.
A defender, Baker started all 20 games this season, compiling 32 caused turnovers and 23 ground balls. She was fifth in the Liberty League in caused turnovers this season, recording a career-high five in the win over nationally-ranked St. John Fisher. Baker was named the IWLCA National Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week after accumulating five caused turnovers and five ground balls across two Liberty League wins over RPI and Union.
A transfer from UMass-Lowell, Baker has appeared in 32 games at William Smith, producing 41 caused turnovers and 36 ground balls.
A two-time Academic All-District selection, Fulton is an economics major. She is a two-time Liberty League All-Academic pick.
An attacker, Fulton started all 20 games this year, notching 32 goals and 19 assists for 51 points, 17 ground balls and six caused turnovers. She was third on the team in both assists and points and tied for fourth in goals. The 2026 Liberty League Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Fulton led the Herons to their 10th conference championship with 11 points on seven goals and four assists, including three goals and three assists in the championship game. She scored a season-high four goals three times, helping William Smith defeat Cortland, RPI and Rochester.
Fulton has started 40 of the 51 games she’s played for the Herons, recording 113 career points on 72 goals and 41 assists.
A media and society major, Sypeck is a two-time Academic All-District honoree and a two-time Liberty League All-Academic selection.
A 2026 IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American, Sypeck started all 18 games she played this season, recording a Liberty League-high 46 caused turnovers and a team-high 43 ground balls. The Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year produced four or more caused turnovers in a game seven times, including a season-high five in a win over Hamilton. Sypeck was named the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week four times this season and was the IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week after logging four caused turnovers and three ground balls in a win over Washington & Lee.
Sypeck has started 56 of the 60 games she’s played for the Herons, registering 99 caused turnovers and 97 ground balls.
William Smith lacrosse was 17-3 this season, winning the Liberty League regular season title with an unblemished 10-0 record. The Herons defeated Union 13-8 in the Liberty League Tournament Championship Game to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the program’s 26th appearance in the national championship chase.
A public health studies major, Smith is a two-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Liberty League All-Academic Team selection.
Smith was three seat in the second varsity eight that won a gold medal at the Liberty League Championships and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. The Herons finished third in the team standings at nationals, matching the program’s highest finish (2002). Smith also helped the 2V to a gold medal finish at the 2025 conference championships.
A biochemistry major, Wiebe has also earned CRCA Scholar-Athlete and Liberty League All-Academic recognition in each of the past two seasons.
Wiebe was six seat in the varsity eight that won a gold medal at the Liberty League Championships and turned in a third place showing at the NCAA Championships. She was a part of the 2026 Liberty League Crew of the Year and won four Liberty League Boat of the Week awards this spring. Wiebe was a first team All-Liberty League selection following the 2024-25 season.
A mathematics and music major, Jump is making her second consecutive appearance on the Academic All-District Team. The two-time AMCC Academic All-Conference selection also earned 2024-25 NTCA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete and 2024-25 NCBCA Collegiate Scholar-Athlete honors.
Jump is a three-time All-AMCC selection, earning second team recognition this season. She earned a spot on the Niagara Fall Open All-Tournament Team and was named the AMCC Bowler of the Week after leading the Herons to an 8-2 record, including a 937-897 upset of then No. 25 Niagara. Jump was also named to the AMCC All-Tournament Team. She bowled five of the top 30 games in Heron history this season, including a career-high 247 against Alvernia. Jump averaged 18.15 pins per frame with a 78.7 fill percentage and 280 strikes this season.
William Smith bowling finished the season with a 52-32 record, the most wins in a season in program history. The Herons finished third at the AMCC Championship, marking the third straight year they’ve finished in the top three.
