NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University sailing team defeated Jacksonville in a Team Race event on Sunday and placed fourth in the Aaron Szambecki Team Race on Saturday.
"It has been over a year since we have been able to compete at home. We had to bail on the season last year just before our annual Aaron Szambecki Team Race. It meant a great deal to us to be able to host the event this year," ODU Head Coach Mitch Brindley said. "The feel and format was a little different than normal with fewer schools competing, but the competition and conditions were great. It took a couple of races to get firing with effective teamwork, but overall the Monarchs had a solid weekend. We came away with a lot of lessons. As the breeze picked up through the weekend, it was clear that the our heavy air technique and fitness continue to be a strong suit."
On Sunday, ODU faced Jacksonville University in both a team race and fleet race. The Monarch winning team went 4-1 and featured skippers Dreugh Phillips, Parker Purrington and John Glenn, and the crew was Makalynne Dyer, Chris Robertson and Jefferson Elkin.
In the Szambecki Team Race on Saturday, the Monarchs placed fourth with a 5-4 race record. Phillips, Bridget Groble and Purrington were skippers, while Dyer, Abigail Tutt and Robertson were crew.
The Monarchs were winless in three attempts in the first round, but turned it around from there. ODU defeated Jacksonville, St. Mary's, and George Washington consecutively, before falling to JU. The Monarchs followed that up with a win over St. Mary's in the final race of the day.
The Monarchs are back in action next weekend at the ODU Sailing Center when they host Navy on Saturday, April 3.
Sailing Places Fourth in Szambecki, Tops Jacksonville in Team Race
