Hoya Staff Writer Friday, August 25, 2006
The two reasons why Hoya sailing won the national championship last year are the same two reasons why they have fallen from No. 1 to No. 12 in Sailing World’s most recent college rankings: Andrew Campbell (SFS ’06) and Derby Anderson (COL ’06). Four-time all-American and 2006 College Sailor of the Year Campbell and all-American Anderson led Georgetown’s sailing team to national success culminating in the championship in June, but their graduation changes everything. In addition to leading the Hoyas to a national championship in the ICSA Team Race National Championship, Campbell and Anderson helped Georgetown to win the Fowle Trophy, awarded to the best college sailing team in the nation based upon the school year’s six national championships. The Hoyas took second in the ICSA coed and women’s national championships last spring and ICSA Sloop National Championship in the fall. Campbell won the National Singlehanded Championship in November. Head Coach Mike Callahan continues to aim for a berth in the national championships but recognizes that may prove a little more difficult this year. “I don’t want to call it a rebuilding year,” he said pointing to 2005-06 all-American junior skipper Chris Behm – ranked one of the best juniors in the country – and another junior skipper, second-time all-American Blaire Herron. “We have our A-team. The real question is who sails the B-team.” Junior Zack Kavanaugh and senior J.B. Turney are both in the running according to Sailing World. Practices begin next week and The Hoyas will officially open their season on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Captain Hurst Bowl in Hanover, N.H. Although he has not seen them in action yet, Callahan was optimistic about three freshmen recruits in particular: skipper arco Teixidor who was top-10 at the World Championships, and crews Christine Burke and Alexandra Taylor. Callahan hopes to have a good idea of the new team’s potential by mid-October and said he does not pay too much attention to the rankings. He was, after all, one of three college coaches who Sailing World asked to decide them.
