George Washington University Athletics
Legault Wins MAISA Women’s Singlehanded Championship
9/17/2018 10:24:00 AM | Sailing
The senior becomes the first Colonial to claim a singlehanded conference title
Senior Riley Legault made program history over the weekend, outpacing the field at the Faye Bennet MAISA Women's Singlehanded Championship to become the first sailor in program history to win a singlehanded conference title.
Legault put on a clinic to win, leading nearly the entirety of the 14-race regatta hosted by Navy. She finished in the top five among a 17-boat field in each of her first eight races, before finishes of seventh, eighth and sixth dropped her into second place. The Florida native responded with poise by taking second, fourth and fifth in the final three races to vault comfortably back into first with a total score of 54, ahead of second-place finisher Lenox Butcher of the University of Pennsylvania with 63.
With her win, Legault also qualified for ICSA Singlehanded Nationals in November where she will become GW's first sailor to compete in the event all four years of her collegiate career.
"Riley really showed a lot of poise from start to finish," said head coach Billy Martin. "Mentally she stayed tough and really earned this. It came down to the last couple races and she did what seniors should do and took care of business and sailed really strong. I'm looking forward to going to nationals with her."
GW also had success in men's singlehanded racing as a pair of Colonials qualified for the MAISA Men's Championship by virtue of their finish at a last-chance Laser Eliminator. Sophomore Soenke Jordan won the regatta while first-year Michael Ehnot finished third, to give GW a record four representatives in the conference championship. Senior Adam DiDomizio and first-year Cameron Feves had already qualified with their performance as the Laser South Qualifier.
Finally, the Colonials entered three boats into the Chesapeake Invitational at St. Mary's and saw the duo of senior Andrew Sheerin and sophomore Tanner Chapko win the regatta.
"We got a lot of great reps in this weekend," said Martin. "Andrew and Tanner won the regatta against a really tough field, probably the best competition of the weekend. It was great to see them have early success and Andrew taking over as a leader for the coed squad. A lot of first-year sailors saw action and we did a lot of learning."
Legault put on a clinic to win, leading nearly the entirety of the 14-race regatta hosted by Navy. She finished in the top five among a 17-boat field in each of her first eight races, before finishes of seventh, eighth and sixth dropped her into second place. The Florida native responded with poise by taking second, fourth and fifth in the final three races to vault comfortably back into first with a total score of 54, ahead of second-place finisher Lenox Butcher of the University of Pennsylvania with 63.
With her win, Legault also qualified for ICSA Singlehanded Nationals in November where she will become GW's first sailor to compete in the event all four years of her collegiate career.
"Riley really showed a lot of poise from start to finish," said head coach Billy Martin. "Mentally she stayed tough and really earned this. It came down to the last couple races and she did what seniors should do and took care of business and sailed really strong. I'm looking forward to going to nationals with her."
GW also had success in men's singlehanded racing as a pair of Colonials qualified for the MAISA Men's Championship by virtue of their finish at a last-chance Laser Eliminator. Sophomore Soenke Jordan won the regatta while first-year Michael Ehnot finished third, to give GW a record four representatives in the conference championship. Senior Adam DiDomizio and first-year Cameron Feves had already qualified with their performance as the Laser South Qualifier.
Finally, the Colonials entered three boats into the Chesapeake Invitational at St. Mary's and saw the duo of senior Andrew Sheerin and sophomore Tanner Chapko win the regatta.
"We got a lot of great reps in this weekend," said Martin. "Andrew and Tanner won the regatta against a really tough field, probably the best competition of the weekend. It was great to see them have early success and Andrew taking over as a leader for the coed squad. A lot of first-year sailors saw action and we did a lot of learning."
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