March 27, 2009
NORFOLK, Va. -- The 20th ranked Old Dominion Monarchs will host an extremely talented fleet this weekend at the Aaron Szambecki Team Race at the sailing center on campus. Four of the nation's top five ranked teams will compete, and seven of the eight teams are nationally ranked in the top twenty. The regatta will be held on the Elizabeth River on the campus of Old Dominion University and is open to the public, free of admission.
ODU, ranked 20th in the nation, led by head coach Mitch Brindley, will look to make a run against one of the toughest fleets in the events history. Top ranked Georgetown, second ranked Boston College, and fourth ranked St. Mary's will lead the way, with #5 Charleston, #7 Navy and #11 Stanford also sailing in the event.
The Monarchs will be led by a veteran group including senior captains Michael Brown and Alissa Ayres. Junior Kyle Rogachenko will also be available as skipper and senior Jaci Finney has been sailing well this spring as crew. The Monarchs have been nationally ranked as high as 17th this spring.
Georgetown is coming off a big win of the Truxton Umstead regatta last weekend, winning both A and B division at the event. St. Mary's boasts a pair of the top female sailors in the United States in Mimi Roller and Sara Morgan Watters and should play a factor this weekend.
The Szambecki is one of just two more tune-ups in the team racing circuit for ODU before the MAISA Team Race Championship on April 11-12 in Washington, D.C. Fans are encouraged to come out to the ODU Sailing Center, located off Powhatan Avenue on campus, to enjoy the regatta and root on the Monarch sailors.