November 2, 2008
Washington 5th at War Memorial
Best Overall Finish in Five Years; Blouin 4th in A Division

ITHACA, NY -- The Washington College sailing team finished fifth of 18 schools at the War Memorial, the MAISA Fall Co-Ed Dinghy Championships, hosted by Cornell University this weekend. The finish was Washington's best at the regatta since finishing fifth in 2003.

Junior skipper Conner Blouin (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) sailed with junior crew Krista Hankins (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) and sophomore crew James Shepherd (Chicago, IL/Lincoln Park) to finish fourth in A Division. Blouin finished in the top five in eight of the 10 A Division races, winning two of them. Senior skipper Derek Packard (Excelsior, MN/Breck) sailed with Shepherd and senior crew Seth Olson (Branford, CT/Branford) to finish sixth in B Division.

Seventh-ranked Georgetown won the War Memorial, followed by ninth-ranked Navy in second and second-ranked St. Mary's (MD) in third.

Next weekend, the Washington College sailing team is slated to compete at the MAISA Sloops Championships, hosted by Merchant Marine, and the MAISA Fall Women's Championships, hosted by Navy.