Siegel and McDermaid Dominate B Division

CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- The host Washington College sailing team won the 14-team MAISA Central Fall Qualifier by one point over second-place Navy this weekend on the Chester River. As the top four finishing MAISA Central teams at the regatta, Washington, Navy, University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova secured spots in the War Memorial, the MAISA Fall Co-Ed Dinghy Championships.

The Shoremen won the regatta thanks to an outstanding performance in B Division by junior skipper Eric Siegel (Kilmarnock, Va./Christchurch School) and sophomore crew Matt McDermaid (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach). Siegel and McDermaid finished first overall in B Division, placing first, second, third, first, first, and second in the six B Division races. Their second-place finish in the final B Division race, to Navy's third-place spot, proved to be the difference in winning the regatta. 

All 12 of the regatta's races sailed on Saturday in 4-6 knot winds. Sunday morning saw no wind and none in the immediate forecast and the regatta was called before noon. 

Senior skipper Eleanor Conroy (West Dennis, Mass./Tabor Academy) and junior Alex Crawford (Annapolis, Md./Severna Park) were fourth in A Division, placing fifth, sixth, fourth, second, fourth, and second in the six A Division races. 

The victory was Washington's first since winning the Team Race Challenge March 23rd and 24th, 2013. This was also its first co-ed dinghy regatta win since taking first place in the MAISA Central Spring Qualifier April 2nd and 3rd, 2011. 

The Washington College sailing team will compete at the St. Mary's Intersectional and the North Fall Qualifier, hosted by Fordham, next weekend.