ITHACA, N.Y. — Roger Williams University Sailing seniors Emily Gildea (Palos Park, Ill.) and Rachel Holick (Lawrence, N.J.) and junior Cameron Wood (Corona del Mar, Calif.) have been honored by the Intercollegiate Sailing Association as ICSA All-Americans. In addition, Gildea was selected to the 2019-20 ICSA All-Academic Team.
 
Gildea was named as an ICSA All-American Crew, while Holick was selected as an ICSA Honorable Mention All-American Crew and Wood as an ICSA Honorable Mention All-American Skipper.
 
The three sailors were was dominant in the boat all season long. Gildea crewed for the team in six of the Hawks' regatta wins this season, while Wood skippered at five of RWU's victories and Holick crewed in four wins. All three helped guide the team to the victory at the New England Team Racing Championship for the Fowle Trophy, qualifying the Hawks for the ICSA Team Racing National Championship. At nationals, the three played a significant role in Roger Williams' runner-up finish.
 
This marks the first ICSA All-American recognition for Gildea, Holick, and Wood. In addition, this is Gildea's first selection to the ICSA All-Academic Team.
 
A committee of representatives from the seven conferences in the ICSA selects the ICSA All-America Team. To select an All-American skipper, the committee evaluates a competitor based on their competitive record in inter-conference competition as well as conference and national championships. The committee analyzes how this record compares to fellow competitors, the quality of the competition the record was achieved in, and results achieved competing with different crews, the span of the record over the fall and spring seasons, and how the record compares to previous All-American winners.
 
Evaluating using these criterion presented a challenge this year for the committee due to the sailing seasons not having traditional inter-conference regattas and participation from all schools.
 
The committee selected six Women's All-American skippers, three Women's Honorable Mentions and eight Coed All-American skippers and seven Coed Honorable Mentions.
 
For All-American crew selections, the committee uses criteria similar to skipper selection, but also considers: demonstrated leadership (may consider seniority), outstanding body mechanics and boat handling skills as well as proven ability to improve the results of the skipper(s) with whom he or she sails. The committee selected nine All-American Crews and nine Honorable Mentions.
 
The criteria for the honorees of the ICSA All-Academic Sailing Team are that he or she must be a junior or senior who has participated as a competitor or alternate in four regattas and have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
 
A committee comprised of representatives from conferences in the ICSA evaluates the nominated sailors. This year's All-Academic Team has over 90 members.
 
- Additional information courtesy of the ICSA