May 5, 2011
STANFORD, Calif.-- Head Coach John Vandemoer announced his fall class of eight sailors, featuring U.S. Development sailors Hans Kenken and Kieran Chung, double-handed national champion Hayley Kirk and radial U.S. Youth Champion Kaitlyn Baab.
“This class will help Stanford sailing to the next level. There is so much talent in this group, but the real highlight of this group is their work ethic,” said Vandemoer, who has led the Cardinal to back-to-back Pacific Coast Conference titles in the coed, women's and team divisions and will compete at the national championships in Oregon at the end of the month “We are a team that works very hard in all aspects of the sport and these new freshman get that and will fit into our team chemistry really well.”
Kieran Chung (Newport Beach, CA / Corona Del Mar HS) started sailing only six years ago after starting out as a water polo player. He has moved onto the U.S. Development team and was the Pacific Coast Doubleheanded Champion. The skipper was also a two-time Double-handed National Champion the 420 division.
Chung told Sailing World two years ago, "The only similarity with water polo is that both require water. Water polo is satisfying physically, but sailing really stimulates my mind. Once I found the Laser, the physical aspect of the sport became satisfying." He did laugh at himself as well, noting at an early race he actually back flipped out of the boat after missing a strap.
Haley Kirk (Long Beach, Calif. / Wilson HS), who has sailed with her brother Korbin out of Long Beach, also competed at the 2008 U.S. Junior Sailing Championships as well as the U.S. Junior Olympics. Kirk is a former double-hhanded national champion and four-time winner of the Long Beach Female Sailor of the Year.
Hans Henken (Coronado, Calif. / Pacific Coast HS) sailed with current Stanford sailor Oliver Toole. Henken is a member of the U.S. Development team, placing third a the Youth Worlds and is a former U.S. Youth champion. He is also a junior moth world champion, which he describes here http://www.sailgroove.org/speaker/2345-henken-hans/video on Sailgroove.org.
Skipper Michael Dahl (Newport Beach, Calif. / Corona Del Mar HS) finished third at the Pacific Coast Championships and with partner Nicole Grice was eighth at the 2010 Youth Sailing Championships in the 420's.
Out of the St. Francis Yacht Club, Kaitllyn Baab (Saratoga, Calif. / Saratoga HS) won the U.S. Youth Championship in the radial division and was 20th over 96 boasts at the Laser North American Championships. She was also fourth at the Junior Women's National Championships.
Jack Ortel (Annapolis, M.D. / Annapolis HS), the younger brother of current freshman, Kelly, was first in the Mid Atlantic doublehanded championships and second in the 420 Club National Championships.
Stanford will also welcome two developmental sailors in Natalie Urban (San Rafael, Calif. / Branson School) and Brittany Hallawell (Coronado, Calif.). Urban also participated in soccer, and Hallawell was a high jumper.
This year's Cardinal coed and women's teams are both ranked in the top-10 nationally, its highest ranking in recent memory. Last year, Stanford was one of only eight teams nationally to have all three teams represented at nationals.
Incoming Sailing Recruits:
Skippers
Kieran Chung, Newport Beach, Calif. (Corona Del Mar HS)
Hans Henken, Coronado, Calif. (Pacific Coast HS)
Michael Dahl, Newport Beach, Calif. (Corona Del Mar HS)
Kaitlyn Baab, Saratoga, Calif. (Saratoga, HS)
Crew
Haley Kirk, Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson HS)
Jack Ortel. Annapolis, M.D. (Annapolis HS)
Natalie Urban, San Rafael, Calif. (Branson School)
Brittany Hallowell, Coronado, Calif. (Coronado HS)