Two Herons Named to All-America Teams
9 July 2021 Two Herons Named to All-America Teams
Two William Smith College rowers were named to the 2021 Pocock/College Rowing Coaches Association All-America teams. JuniorAnnie Wertheimerearned first team honors while classmateFreya Birkas-Dentrepresented the Herons on the second team.
Both Wertheimer and Birkas-Dent competed in the varsity eight this spring. William Smith was nationally-ranked throughout the condensed racing season, climbing as high as No. 12 in the Pocock CRCA Poll presented by USRowing. Wertheimer was in Seven Seat for three of the crews four races, while Birkas-Dent spent half the season in Stroke Seat.
The duo led the Herons to a bronze medal at the Liberty League Championships and to a head-to-head victory over league rival Rochester.
Wertheimer is the 14th first team All-American in William Smith rowing history. She has twice earned the S.Ford WeiskittelAward as the teams most valuable oarswoman. Wertheimer also garnered first team All-Liberty League recognition this season.
Wertheimer and Birkas-Dent raise the number of All-American rowers in William Smith history to 28. Birkas-Dent earned All-Liberty League second team honors this year. She was the 2018-19 William Smith Rowing Coachs Award winner.
To earn All-America honors, student-athletes are evaluated on the basis of boat performance, nomination rank, coachs comments, individual achievements and 2k erg score.