June 9, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown sophomore Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) was awarded the Everett B. Morris Trophy following the end of the sailing season. The trophy goes to the college sailor of the year and it is the second year in a row a Hoya has received the honor and the third recognition in four years, following Andrew Campbell (2006) and Chris Behm (2008). A total of six GU sailors were named All-American following the close of the season.

Buckingham was named a Coed All-American along with classmate Evan Aras (Annapolis, Md./Severn School). Freshman Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif./Poly High School) was named a Women's All-American. Senior Carly Chamberlain (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor), junior Caila Johnson (Newport, R.I./St. Paul's School) and junior Alexandra Taylor (Hobe Sound, Fla./The Benjamin School) were all named Crew All-Americans.

Buckingham is the first sophomore to ever be recognized as the College Sailor of the Year. During his impressive freshman campaign, Buckingham was the only freshman to be named an All-American as the Hoyas captured their first-ever fleet racing national championship.

While it is rare for the Everett B. Morris Trophy to be awarded to someone as young as Buckingham, it has happened. In 1977, the trophy went to Washington's Carl Buchan, a freshman. Buchan continued his career and eventually was an Olympic gold medalist. Time will tell what is in the cards for Buckingham, but after just two years on the Hilltop, he has already become a highly-decorated sailor and received the highest honor that college sailing has to offer.

The Hoyas concluded the season with a third-place performance at both the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Team Racing and Fleet Racing National Championship and a seventh-place showing at the Women's National Championship.