Sept. 14, 2010

WASHINGTON - Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) started right where he left off. After winning the A Division at the ICSA Nationals in June, Buckingham returned to the water and delivered a commanding performance to win the first qualifier for the MAISA Singlehanded Championship. Winds were light and shifty but the race committee managed to get off 11 races. Buckingham had eight firsts and three seconds in his 11 races. Coming in second and also qualifying for the MAISA Singlehanded Championship was sophomore Chris Barnard (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor). Barnard sailed a solid event as well, averaging around third place and winning one race. Freshman Matt Gowell (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) started out slowly but showed great signs of improvement with the short course races and ended up ninth. Gowell will have another chance to qualify for the singlehanded championship in a few weeks. The Hoyas sent a veteran squad to the Riley Cup for the first doublehanded conference event of the season. Over the course of 20 races the Hoyas stayed neck and neck with the St. Mary's team and led going into the last set of races but were unable to hold onto the lead. With only a few days of practice it was a good finish for the group. Both divisions sailed well and were very close to first in A and B. The Hoyas entered three boats in the inaugural Laser Radial Regatta at the Naval Academy. Over 10 races in light air the Hoyas top performer was sophomore Michael Schalka (Seattle, Wash./Dartmoor). Schalka was only two points out of second and showed great speed in the light air. Junior Sydney Bolger (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) sailing a Laser for the first time, showed great promise and can be in contention at the Conference Championship with some more practice. Freshman Merritt Moran finished 12th in her first college event and also showed great promise.

RESULTS

Qualifier for MAISA Singlehanded Championship at Navy
1. Charlie Buckingham (14 pts.)
2. Chris Barnard (33 pts.)
9. Matt Gowell (101 pts.)

Riley Cup at Old Dominion
A Division
3. Michael Campbell/Annalee Leggett (41 pts.)
B Division
2. Andrew Mason/Leslie Cowen (34 pts.)

Overall (Top 4 of 14)
1. St. Mary's (71 pts.)
2. Georgetown (75 pts.)
3. Old Dominion (89 pts.)
4. Navy (92 pts.)

Laser Radial Regatta at Navy
3. Michael Schalka (46 pts.)
10. Sydney Bolger (102 pts.)
12. Merritt Moran (132 pts.)