BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Sailing team women's fleet racing squad will compete among the nation's top programs at the 2026 ICSA Women's Fleet Race National Championship.

Hosted by the University of South Florida, the championship event begins with the Women's Eastern National Semis on May 15-16 before the top nine teams from each semifinal advancing to the national finals on May 17-18.

Roger Williams was one of 36 programs selected for the national championship field and one of 13 schools chosen out of New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) competition. The Hawks earned selection following a spring season highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the NEISA Women's Fleet Race Championship - Reed Trophy.

At the Reed Trophy, hosted by the United States Coast Guard Academy, Roger Williams placed fourth overall in one of the nation's deepest conference championship fleets. The Hawks were led by Lucy Meagher and Maren Matthews in A Division, where RWU finished fifth overall, while Tavia Smith, Mackenzie Speece, Katherine McGagh, and Elyssa Franklin combined for a seventh-place result in B Division. Roger Williams finished behind only Yale University, Brown University, and Harvard University in the final team standings.

The Hawks enter the weekend looking to continue one of the strongest stretches in program history. Roger Williams is making its fifth straight appearance at the national semifinals and will look to advance into the national championship finals for the third time. Last season, RWU posted a program-best third-place finish at the Women's Fleet Racing Western Semifinal to secure a spot in the championship round for the second consecutive season, finishing 15th in the finals.

In the 2025 semifinals, Roger Williams totaled 107 points to finish behind only Yale University and Georgetown University while edging Brown University by four points. Meagher and Matthews led the Hawks in A Division with a third-place finish, while Smith sailed all nine races in B Division alongside Elyssa Franklin and alum Jancy Grayson.

The Hawks also pulled in some key honors from the All-NEISA teams, with Meagher earning Scond Team Women's Skipper recognition, while Maren Matthews was honored with All-NEISA Second Team Women's Crew honors. Smith earned the NEISA Student Leadership award.