Oct. 26, 2008
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Old Dominion sailor Kyle Rogachenko (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton HS) finished with 75 points, the best score at the ICSA Singlehanded National Championship. Unfortunately for the Monarch sailor, though, so did Cy Thompson from Roger Williams University. The first tiebreaking criteria at the event was number of first place finishes, of which Thompson held the edge by a slight 3-2 margin. Rogachenko was forced to settle for second despite a stellar regatta as ODU's first men's qualifier in seven years.
The ODU junior had the points lead at the conclusion of all three days as he sailed a terrific regatta. On day three, he slipped with a ninth place finish to start, the worst of the weekend, but rebounded with a second, first and third to close.
Thompson nearly won outright, with an unbelievable day on Sunday, starting with a fourth, first, first and second place finish, but let Rogachenko back in with a 10th place finish as the ODU sailor won the 17th race. With just one race remaining, Rogachenko was just one point behind Thompson which set up a dramatic finish.
Kyle managed to finish ahead of Thompson, sailing to a third place finish while Thompson finished fourth, but the tie would not be enough to put Rogachenko over the top and the two would tie with 75 points. Rogachenko had nine top three finishes in 18 races, and two wins while Thompson posted just seven top three slots but grabbed three wins.
Rogachenko matched Brad Funk's finish from seven years ago as ODU's last men's qualifier to the national championship with the second place effort.
On the women's side, Stephanie Roble (East Troy, Wisc./Catholic Central-Burlington) and Morgan Wilson (Arnold, Md./Annapolis HS) both sailed well enough to move up on the final day, finishing 7th and 9th respectively.
Wilson had a very good final day on the course, jumping up three slots to ninth with the effort. She won two races on the final day and stayed in the top ten in six races. Wilson finished with 164 total points, just six back of her teammate.
Roble also picked up a spot on the third day of racing, finishing with 158 points and a seventh place finish. Roble sailed a consistent last day but it was not enough to propel her into the top five, finishing 27 points back.
In the event, Roble totaled 12 top ten finishes with a regatta-high third place effort twice. Wilson won two races and finished in the top ten 11 times.