Without much recognition the Georgetown Saling team has proven that it is a force to be reckoned with. By plowing through a national qualifying tournament that Hoyas have attained a no. 1 collegiate ranking. The team’s national prominence has them poised to make a run in nationals one month from now.
Over the weekend the women’s team took to their boats and seized second place in the Mid-Atlantic district qualifier for the national championships, winning four of ten races. In the A-division, sophomore skipper Derby Anderson and junior crew Barbara Hall placed fourth behind Old Diminion, St. Mary’s and Hobart/William Smith. In the B-division, senior skipper Eliza Ryan and senior crew Emilie Lincon won. The combined women’s totals put them in second overall. The Hoyas placed behind Old Dominion, but ahead of Navy and Hobart/William Smith, the other national qualifiers.
The women’s squad is currently ranked no. 6 in the nation and looks to capture the national title next month. “Everyone has been putting in a lot of effort. The entire team has been working hard,” senior captain Eliza Ryan said.
“It’s good to see them finish strong,” sophomore sailor Dan Culley said.
The co-ed team placed first in the national qualifiers two weeks ago, winning twelve of fifteen races. Amid a steady breeze, the triple round robin showcased Georgetown’s ability against the top three ranked teams in the nation. Hobart/William Smith and St. Mary’s College, who handed the Hoyas their three losses previously this season, took second and third, respectively. The skippers were seniors Bill Jorch, Thatcher Spring, and senior Co-ed Captain Tyler Haskell, and sophomore Andrew Campbell, with crews sophomores Kelly Lanzara, Kati Ferriss, Jackie Schmitz, and senior Emilie Lincoln. The top three teams from the regatta qualified for nationals.
This is the fifth time that Georgetown has qualified for the nationals in the last three years and their third win in the last four years. The co-ed team is ranked no. 1 in the nation after the showing at the national qualifiers and their no. 2 finish in the Truxton Umstead regatta at Navy, one of the most competitive of the season.
This weekend the co-ed team travels to Hobart/William Smith to sail in the fleet race national qualifiers-the top three will qualify. Haskell seems fairly confident in the team’s ability. “I feel pretty good about our chances. This could be the first year we qualify for all three,” he said, “It would make clear why we are considered to be the no. 1 team. I attribute most of the success to the depth of our team and our high quality practices.” Haskell said. The Hoyas are ranked first in the nation, with Harvard and Hobart/Williams Smith in second and third respectively.
The team attributes their success to the dedicated team members and hard work. “We have a really vigorous practice schedule. It is a huge time commitment,” Ryan said “Coaches Callahan and Costello have been fabulous. They complement each other’s style.”
“We’re really intense about practicing … We drill constantly, we’re focused,” Culley said “We’re a really tight community, everybody adds something to the team.”
The national championships will take place in Cascade Locks Oregon from May 26th through June 4th. At the nationals, there are two to four teams that represent each district, depending on the size of the district in each category (Co-ed, Women’s, and Fleet). “I’m a senior and captain of the women’s team; I’m psyched for the nationals and I feel we can do a good job,” Ryan said. “It’s fun to be a strong team.”
According to Ryan though, the nationals will not be an easy breeze, “We need to do the little things. Minimizing the mistakes. Staying positive and having a good attitude.”
