NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion sailing team is back in action this weekend for two races on Saturday and Sunday. The Aaron Szambecki team race in Norfolk and the Hanbury Trophy in Hampton.
The Monarchs go into their last major test before conference championships this weekend at home with the Aaron Szambecki Team Race. One of the premier events of the spring, teams from Miami (Fla.), Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Georgetown, George Washington, Tulane, Navy, College of Charleston and Dartmouth College come to town for a full weekend of racing. Seniors Parker Purrington and Rider Odom along with sophomore Diogo Silva will be at the helm for Old Dominion with a rotation of crews including senior Ethan Tutt, junior Allison Volk, senior Parker Younger, freshman Ian Kissell, and others.
Aaron Szambecki, class of 1996, was a Monarch Captain, Honorable Mention All-American, and multi-year starter. ODU's home regatta memorializes Aaron but serves to also raise awareness for suicide prevention. Aaron took his life shortly after his college sailing career ended. In 2017, Freshman Gray Kiger was also a casualty of depression. The incidence of suicide is sadly numerous and on the rise. It is with the help of colleges and universities, as seen by ODU establishing a student athlete mental health center, that education is being provided. With awareness, suicide is preventable. If you or a loved one are in need, you can dial the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
Sailing at Fort Monroe hosted by Christopher Newport, Old Dominion will start freshmen Sam Riley and Milo Miller as helms with junior Isabelle Kanach and sophomore Lindsey Kaufmann as crews. A regional event, the Monarchs will sail against teams from Christopher Newport, Hampton, Monmouth, North Carolina State, Princeton, Queens College, St Mary's College of Maryland, Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, UNC Wilmington, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Washington College. Riley and Miller make their first starts of the spring, both having sailed last at the Tom Curtis regatta in the fall.
ODU will be back in action on Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31 when they compete in the MAISA Women's Fleet Race in Geneva, New York.