ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Roger Williams University Women's Fleet Racing Sailing team advanced to the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Women's Fleet Racing National Championships after finishing third in the Western Semifinal.
The Hawks compiled 107 points, finishing third, behind Yale (57), and Georgetown (78). The Hawks edged out New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) foe Brown by four points. Tulane, Northeastern, Charleston, George Washington, and Tufts rounded out the top nine.
In Division A, the Hawks saw
Lucy Meagher and
Maren Matthews finish with 36 total points, placing third, behind Yale with 35 for second place. Georgetown's Piper Holthus, Scarlett Harris, and Lucy Jervis took the top spot with 24 total points.
The duo opened up strong, taking a second-place finish in their first race, before placing first in their second to take the lead in the regatta. The Hawks maintained the lead after a fourth and first-place finish in races three and four, before falling outside the top five, placing sixth, in race five.
In race six, the Hawks fell out of the lead after a ninth-place finish, as Georgetown took control of the regatta and led Division A from there. RWU rounded out their final three races in sixth, fourth, and third, respectively, before Yale used three straight top-five finishes to edge out the Hawks.
In Division B, the Hawks saw
Tavia Smith skipper all nine races, with
Jancy Grayson and
Elyssa Franklin sailing as crews. RWU finished ninth in the division with 71 points while Yale, Brown, and Georgetown took the top three spots.
After sailing to 10
th and 13
th place finishes in the opening two races on Tuesday, the Hawks recovered on day two with a fifth and fourth place finish, before dropping back down to 13
th in their fifth race. After placing fourth in race six, the Hawks again fell into the bottom half, with a 14th-place finish in the seventh race. The Hawks would build momentum through the regatta, earning a seventh and first-place finish to round out the semifinals.
With the finish, the Hawks advance to their second straight National Championship appearance, posting their best ever semifinal place.
Roger Williams will return to the water on Thursday, May 22 for the opening day of the Women's Fleet Racing National Championship.
