On the heels of the program's fourth Liberty League Championship, the William Smith rowing team earned the conference's Crew of the Year, Novice Crew of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year awards. The Heron varsity eight, novice eight and Head Coach Sandra Chu and her staff were honored by the league.

Ranked in the CRCA/USRowing coaches poll top 10 all spring, the Heron varsity eight climbed as high as No. 4 in the nation. They captured the Liberty League Championship with a four-second victory over then No. 9 St. Lawrence. William Smith's top crew also posted victories over then No. 2 Ithaca and then No. 8 WPI. The Heron V8 was named the Liberty League Boat of the Week five times this season. Ranked No. 6 entering the NCAA Rowing Championship, William Smith improved its standing with a fifth place finish in the grand final on May 28.

The varsity eight was powered by sophomore Kim Goral, sophomore Liz Hafer, senior Maggie Smith, first-year Lauren Blake-Whitney, sophomore Sarah Gordon, first-year Katie Paige, junior Tess Wiggins, junior Claire Brown, and sophomore Jess Steketee.

Goral, Gordon, and Hafer were all members of the William Smith novice eight that won the 2010 Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year award.

The Heron novice eight emerged victorious at the Liberty League Championships, defeating the second place crew by 31.3 seconds. William Smith earned the league's Boat of the Week award following a silver medal winning performance at the Head of the Genesee in the fall. In the ECAC Championships, the Herons finished second in the petite final, trailing New Hampshire by just 0.718 seconds.

The novice eight was powered by first-years Ariel Nathan, Kate Manilenko, Arianna White, Christine Reighley, Sophie Jenkins, Sinead Reilly, Grace Walter, Katie Lehmann, and Ava Pavao.

Now in her ninth season in Geneva, Chu led the Herons to their fourth Liberty League Championship and ninth NCAA Rowing Championship berth. Chu, a five-time recipient of the award, is assisted by Jodi Hope and Ford Weiskittel. Heron crews earned seven Liberty League Boat of the Week awards this season. Chu has overseen the development of five Crew of the Year winners (2004-07, 2011) and five Novice Crew of the Year winners (2005, 2008-11).