By Angelica Niedermeyer, News Editor

This spring, the sailing team placed in a number of regattas and continued to qualify for regional races. Captains senior Julia LaForgia and junior Lauren Ehnot, along with faculty adviser Jen Jamer, led the team to a successful season this spring. With the addition of two new freshmen, sailors participated in weekly Wednesday races at the Toms River Yacht Club.

“Although we are such a small team, we still leave a big impact on all of the regattas we go to,” senior Hope Maguire said. “Due to our small size, our team has a closer bond than most, which makes sailing together easier and obviously much more fun.”

Seniors Hope M. and Julia L. prepare to compete in one of the Wednesdays Regattas at Toms River Yacht Club. (Photo courtesy of Jen Jamer)

On April 12 and 13, the team traveled to the MASSA 2019 Gold Fleet Mallory Qualifier in Annapolis, MD, where they placed fifth in the girls division and seventh overall.

They also placed fourth overall at the NJISA Spring Invitational, and their fifth place finish at the Gold & Silver Champs qualified them for the MASSA Spring Gold Fleet Championship. On May 4 and 5, the team of six competed in the MASSA 2019 Girls Championship where they placed fifth with Ehnot as skipper and junior Alex Chrystal, freshman Sydney Gusmer and Maguire as the crew.

“Our team is so close, we feel like a family. Whether we win first place or last, we are always still happy to be working together,” Chrystal said.

As the sailing team continues to grow, they are also celebrating another first for the program. LaForgia will be the first graduate in school history to continue her sailing career in college, as she will compete in Division I sailing at George Washington University.