The William Smith rowing team's novice eight was selected the 2010 Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year in a vote of the conference's coaches. It's the third consecutive season the Herons have garnered the league award and the fourth time since the Liberty League began presenting postseason awards in rowing in 2004.

The Herons showed a great deal of progress throughout the season. After losing to Ithaca by 16 seconds in the fall season opening head race, William Smith topped the Bombers in a head-to-head race by 14 seconds in the spring. The Herons also defeated Rochester during the spring and finished second out of four teams (Tufts A & B, RIT) at WPI.

The William Smith novice eight was powered by first-year Kim Goral, first-year Syd Cheney, first-year Madison Finley, first-year Emily Shelden, first-year Liz Hafer, first-year Sarah Gordon, first-year Irini Stamatiou, junior Nora Devine-Carter, and first-year Leila Peraro.

The Herons have earned the Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year award in 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010. William Smith has also captured four Liberty League Crew of the Year awards (2004-07), while Head Coach Sandra Chu is a four-time recipient of the Liberty League Coach of the Year award.