Local sailors win state championship regatta
On April 2 the members of The Foundry Sailing Team, hailing from Bay Village, Saint Edward, Saint Ignatius, and Rocky River high schools, were prepared to sail in the Ohio High School Sailing State Championship Regatta in Westerville at the Hoover Sailing Club. The regatta was attended by four Foundry-based teams, consisting of 16 sailors all eager to compete.
The Foundry team brought back the State Championship High School Sailing trophy. This is the fourth championship in a row for a team from The Foundry. In addition to the State Championship title, the Foundry team was able to achieve first and second place in both the A fleet - B fleet overall ranking. This achievement is a reflection of the hard work all the athletes put in during practice sessions in Cleveland that paid off during the championship regatta.
The regatta was not without its challenges, though. Foundry sailing coach Nogay Dokmeci explained, “When the rain came in, our teams went out on the water to practice. We were prepared for whatever came our way, which undoubtedly gave us the edge we needed. Despite the challenges, our sailors remained focused and determined to perform their best.”
The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center located in the Flats is a premiere venue for teaching all students rowing and sailing, regardless of background. The Foundry provides many student-athletes the opportunity to sail on the shores of the Lake Erie.
This regatta was one of the first for some of the sailors, and the Foundry was delighted to see the progress they have made in their sailing. Athletes that competed: Molly Kean, James Kelly, Noah Scholtz, and Annika Vanderhorst (from Bay Village); Shay Malone, Braden Basile, Dillon Gale and Jacob Wackers (Saint Edward); Adam Starck, Bobby Starck, and Bert Wirtz (Saint Ignatius); Reese Levinson, Jacob Myers, Rider Myers, and Buck Rathbun (Rocky River). They worked hard, learned quickly, and performed admirably, showing a lot of promise for the future.