Annapolis, Md. – Stanford kept up the strong start to the spring slate this weekend, finishing first at three more regattas. In the first four weekends of the year, the Card has finished first in eight-straight
“It's hard to win one regatta per weekend. Some teams win none throughout the season. It's unusual to win two and very rare to win three,” said head coach Chris Klevan. “It speaks to our depth and the quality we can find from top to bottom. I'm proud of the work the entire team is putting in.”
Stanford swept the St. Mary’s team race, winning all nine races. The boats, consisting of Reade Decker and Callie Hammond, Vanessa Lahrkamp and Alice Schmid, and Thomas Sitzmann and Abby Baird, finished first in eight of the nine races. Two of the nine wins featured the Card take the three top spots.
“Winning the St. Mary’s Team Race is not a small deal. I think we’re sailing this season the way we want to sail. I think we all can see our full potential and we’re having fun reaching it – that can be contagious,” said Klevan. “However, we’ve only lost one total race on the season. That streak is unsustainable. Can we sail this way when things aren’t going our way? Good teams can win races, great teams are inevitable.”
The Cardinal went 8-0 at the Jen Harris team race as well, taking the top three spots in five races and the top two in all eight.
Ellie Harned, Alexandra Jones, Samara Walshe, Sophie Fisher, Piper Blackband and Kit Harned all contributed to the dominant effort for the Card.
Closing out the weekend was a first-place finish at the Bob Bavier open team race. Stanford went 12-1 in the eight-team regatta, dropping the first race of the spring season. Freddie Parkin and Caroline Geiger, Thomas Whidden and Amiya Stroumza, and Lucas Woodworth and Kate Myles competed for the Cardinal. Stanford boats finished first and second in 11 of 13 races.
“We sailed well when we were able get on the water, however, a light-wind weekend on the east coast left limited opportunities to improve,” said Klevan. “We seem to be remembering to enjoy the work, respect the little things that got us to where we are now. If we keep it up, and get better still, I see no reason we can't win championship this spring.”
Next up for the Card is the Graham Hall open team race, running from March 14-15.