College Sailing recognizes performance, contribution

The Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) has announced the individual honors for the Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year, Marlow Ropes College Sailor of the Year, and Robert H. Hobbs Sportsmanship Award for the 2019-2020 season.

Recipients were selected by the ICSA All-America committee and will be added to the ICSA Hall of Fame display located in the Robert Crown Center at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

The Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year is awarded annually to an individual who has performed at the highest level of competition in district and national championships. The two finalists this year were Christine Klingler ’20 (Yale University) and Michelle Lahrkamp ’23 (Stanford University).

Lahrkamp was selected based on her performance during the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, coming into college sailing strong as a freshman and finishing in the top two of nearly every regatta she competed in.

The Everett B. Morris Trophy is awarded annually to the Marlow Ropes College Sailor of the Year for outstanding performance at the highest level of sailing in the collegiate year. The trophy is named in memory of a distinguished journalist who spent more than 30 years, as a yachting writer and editor.

The two finalists were Jack Parkin ’21 (Stanford University) and Sean Segerblom ’21 (Georgetown University), with Parkin earning the award calculated by the results.

“Receiving these awards is an incredible accomplishment for our team and for the history of our program,” says Brian Swingly, head coach for Stanford University. “In a year in which we were not afforded the opportunity to put our hard work to the test at the National Championships, this recognition from the ICSA is a great way for everyone on the team to celebrate.”

The Robert H. Hobbs Sportsmanship Award is awarded annually to the Sportsman of the Year. The trophy honors Robert Hobbs (MIT ’64), past Executive Vice President of ICSA, past President of U.S. Sailing (1992-1994), and former chair of the U.S. Sailing Olympic Committee.

This year’s winner is Kyle Easton ’20, Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

The ICSA Hall of Fame Committee honored four individuals for their contributions to the sport of college sailing by inducting them into the ICSA Hall of Fame. To read the full report and letters of nomination for the inductees, click here.

Allison Chenard (Mooresville, N.C.) was recognized with the James Rousmaniere Award for student leadership; Patrick Alan Healy (Toronto Ontario, Canada) was honored with the Campbell Family Award for Lifetime Service; Michael J. Callahan (Washington, D.C.) was awarded the Graham Hall Award for outstanding service by a college sailing professional and Paul Manning (Mill Valley, Calif.) was honored with the Outstanding Service by a Volunteer award.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor individuals for either undergraduate competitive achievement in sailing or outstanding leadership and service to the establishment, development and growth of the sport. The names of the inductees will be added to the ICSA College Sailing Hall of Fame, which is on permanent display in the Robert Crown Center at the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD).

The James Rousmaniere Award for Student Leadership recognizes an undergraduate for extraordinary achievement in leadership whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the development, progress and success of his or her club or team, conference or the ICSA.

Chenard, a senior at the University of Georgia, has been a leader for her sailing team as team captain for her four years and also for the ICSA working hard on the Communications Committee and helping to establish the organization’s branding, online presence and social media platform.

“This honor means a lot to me and is particularly special to me because of my late grandfather and what he meant to me,” says Chenard.

The Campbell Family Award for Lifetime Service, which was recently re-named at the 2019 Annual Spring College Sailing Meeting to honor the Campbell family’s contribution to the sport of college sailing. It recognizes a career of extraordinary service to college sailing, as a volunteer or professional.

Healy has a career of service to college sailing contributing as a volunteer and professional coach, judge, and umpire. He has been a tremendous influence on college sailors over his 30 years of contributions.

“It is difficult to describe what being recognized by the ICSA with the Campbell Family Award for Lifetime Service means to me,” says Healy. “The list of previous recipients are people that I have admired, sought guidance from, and respected my entire sailing life. Likewise, the college sailing community is an equally distinguished and healthy institution.

“All of the those who make up the college sailing; student-athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials, are first focused on supporting the integrity of the community, then excellence, then winning. How did I become so lucky as to become involved with such a group and then stay involved for such a long time?

“To the ICSA officers, I sincerely thank you. To the Campbell family, and especially Ann Campbell, it is the highest honor for me to be included on an award in tribute to your efforts on behalf of college sailors. To college sailors everywhere, please stay involved.”

The Graham Hall Award for outstanding service by a college sailing professional recognizes organizers, administrators, advisors, or coaches who have served the best interest of College Sailing at the club/team, conference or national level.

Callahan has been working in college sailing for the past 20 years and has had a huge impact on the sport and advancing the sport. He has coached Georgetown University at the highest level during his time as head coach of his alma mater.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Graham Hall award,” says Callahan. “I’m grateful to be listed among the amazing coaches who have won this award in the past.”

The Outstanding Service by a volunteer award honors an individual who has volunteered their time, talent and resources to advance the interests of college sailing at the club, team, conference or national level.

Manning has spent his whole sailing career as a dedicated volunteer for his as a team captain, as a race committee volunteer and a champion of the sport before returning again to coach his alma mater, the University of California – Berkeley.

“As a former Captain of the Cal Sailing team (1982-83), it has been a real treat for me to be able to contribute, as a part-time volunteer coach, and to see the forward progress of the team,” says Manning.

“To help add some guidance and coaching of a student led club sport that gets along well on its own, I have found opportunities to share my time and expertise in ways that increase both the team and my learning. It is a true win-win situation. While this award comes as a surprise to me, I appreciate the nomination and recognition for the efforts which I have truly enjoyed being able to share with the team. And Go Bears & Sail Fast!”

Source: ICSA

Background: The ICSA is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada. There are seven Conferences that schedule and administer regattas within their established geographic regions, with ICSA hosting two national championships in the fall (singlehanded, match racing) and three national championships in the spring (team, women’s, coed). collegesailing.org

2019-20 Nationals
November 1-3 – Match Racing – Marblehead, MA
November 8-10 – Singlehanded – Santa Barbara, CA
May 26-June 5 – Women’s, Coed, Team Racing – New Orleans, LA – CANCELLED