April 13, 2008
WC Qualifies for National Semifinals
Performance at America Trophy Results in First-Ever National Bid

GENEVA, NY -- The Washington College sailing team secured its first-ever berth in an Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) national championship event by finishing eighth of 18 schools at the America Trophy, the MAISA Spring Co-Ed Dinghy Championships, this weekend at Hobart/William Smith. The top-eight finish assured Washington of a spot in an ICSA Co-Ed Dinghy National Championship Semifinal to be held at Hobart/William Smith in two weeks.

Washington totaled 200 points at the regatta as three teams finished within two points of each other for the final two berths to the national semifinals. Washington was one point behind seventh-place Old Dominion and one point ahead of 17th-ranked and ninth-place Navy. The top six finishers at the event were, in order, fourth-ranked Georgetown, top-ranked St. Mary's, 12th-ranked New York Maritime, eighth-ranked Hobart/William Smith, 15th-ranked Pennsylvania, and Merchant Marine.

Sophomore skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) sailed with sophomore crew Krista Hankins (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) and junior crew Seth Olson (Branford, CT/Branford) to finish fourth in B Division. Blouin skippered Washington to top-five finishes in eight of the division's 14 races, winning two of them. Senior skipper Alex Hood (Newport, RI/Portsmouth Abbey) sailed with senior crew Shrijana Puri (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and freshman crew Caroline Hill (Tiverton, RI/Bishop Stang, MA) to place 11th in A Division.

Washington's first-ever berth to a national championship event comes in the program's 11th varsity season. After several years as a club sport, sailing was elevated to varsity status at the college for the 1997-98 academic year.

Next weekend, the Washington College sailing team will compete at the Thompson Trophy, hosted by Coast Guard, the MAISA Spring Open, hosted by New York Maritime, and the Intrepid Trophy, hosted by Navy.