The Hobart and William Smith rowing teams will open the 2011-12 racing season on Saturday, Oct. 8, when they host the annual HWS Challenge on the Canal. Boats from Clarkson, Geneseo, Ithaca, Marietta, and RIT will join HWS on the Seneca-Cayuga Canal for races beginning at 9 a.m. with the women's varsity eight. The first men's race, the varsity eight, is scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m.
 
Following the day's final race, the men's varsity four at 12:10 p.m., Hobart will recognize the accomplishments of the crew that competed at the Henley Royal Regatta over the summer.
 
The Challenge marks the start of the Paul Bugenhagen era. In his first season as the Statesmen's head coach, Bugenhagen inherited a roster that graduated seven of the nine members of the varsity eight that was named the 2010-11 Liberty League Crew of the Year. The two returning oarsmen are captains senior Harald Zurakowski and junior Coty Burgess. Five members of the second varsity eight also are back.
 
Additionally, Hobart captured the Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year award last season. Six members of that boat return.
 
The Statesmen also welcomed 18 first-years to the squad.
 
Hobart has won six consecutive Liberty League Championships, eight straight Liberty League Crew of the Year awards, and seven of the past eight Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year awards.
 
The day's complete racing schedule follows:

• 9 a.m. – Women's Varsity 8+
• 9 a.m. – Women's Second Varsity 8+
• 9:20 a.m. – Men's Varsity 8+
• 9:20 a.m. – Men's Second Varsity 8+
• 9:40 a.m. – Women's Novice 4+
• 10:30 a.m. – Hobart Alumni Challenge
• 10:50 a.m. – Women's Novice 8+
• 11:10 a.m. – Men's Novice 8+
• 11:30 a.m. – Men's Varsity 4+
• 11:50 a.m. – Women's Varsity 4+
• 12:10 p.m. – Men's Novice 4+