Written by Sarah Conlon
Thursday, October 17, 2002

SAILORS TAKES GEORGE WARREN SMITH TROPHY

MEDFORD--Poor conditions didn't stop the Tufts Sailing team from capturing first place at their weekend regatta. Despite dizzle and mist, Tufts beat out 19 other competitors to earn the George Warren Smith Trophy. The regatta featured local New England teams. Each boat was double handed, and ran six races. Tufts finished with a score of 63,  thirteen points better than second-place Roger Williams (76), and 25 better than third placed Dartmouth (88).

The Tufts A team was skippered by senior Rob Pascal (East Haddum, CT/The Williams School), and sophomore Liz Haddad (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) was the crew. The duo finished atop the A division with a total of 26 points, placing first in one race, and finishing third in two others. Tufts nearest competition in the division came from second place Brown, who finished with 40 points, and Roger Williams with 44 points.

In the B division, two freshmen sailors competed sucessfully. Skipper Zander Kirkland (Warwick, BERMUDA/Tabor Academy) and crew Rachel Filip (Durham, NC/ Durham School or the Arts) captured third place (37) behind Roger Williams (32) and Boston College (32). After a shaky first race and a low finish, the two freshman were able to recompose themselves. They came back to win the fifth race and finished third in three others.

The Sailing team will look to continue their winning ways this upcoming weekend, Oct 19-20, when they compete in the Women's Intersectional at Yale, the Navy Fall Invite, the New England Sloop Championship at Brown, and the Lane Trophy home at Tufts.

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