George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
MAISA Coed Championship
Historic Season-of Firsts Ends for GW Sailing
5/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Sailing
Needing a top-nine finish at this weekend's America Trophy in Norfolk, Virginia, the GW Colonials narrowly missed out on their first-ever bid to the 36-team ICSA Coed National Championship with a 12th place finish.
In a season full of milestones for GW sailing, the team saw sophomore male MVP Brendan Shanahan become the first GW sailor in 60 years to qualify for singlehanded nationals and compete in the ICSA Laser National Championship in October, while the squad enjoyed it's first-ever coed and women's national rankings. The arrival of a brand new 18-boat fleet and its commissioning at the inaugural GW Team Race in March highlighted the season after the successful completion of the Raise High the Sails fundraising campaign.
On Saturday under sunny skies, a crisp 10-14 knot northerly wind opened the morning, but the breeze waned throughout the day as the wind direction changed. After six races the Colonials were in 12th place, leaving their work cut out for them to try to climb to ninth or higher on Sunday.
Sunday's conditions were far from optimal for sailing, as minimal wind saw the 2015 America Trophy end in dramatic fashion. GW's A Division boat skippered by freshman Roger Dorr and crewed by female team MVP freshman Miranda Bakos sailed to a 2nd and 9th place finish in races 7 and 8, but with B Division skipper Shanahan and senior crew Meagan Murphy on their way to a third place finish that would have vaulted the Colonials to 9th place standing - good enough to qualify for nationals - the race was called for lack of wind as GW neared the finish. Racing then ceased for the event as the time limit expired, leaving GW in 12th place to match their best-ever finish at the America Trophy as a varsity program, but 16 points behind 9th place Hobart and William Smith (122-106).
"It was a frustrating and disappointing ending," noted Head Coach John Pearce, "but one that has the team fired up for next fall and looking to come back a more determined and better squad. From this weekend there were some moral and developmental highlights as we showed an ability under pressure to get the job done."
