Following is a copy of the wrap-up, which was just forwarded to the team and its supporters. To the fans of Fordham Sailing on this board, thank you for your kind words and support over the years, and may all of you and your loved ones have a most Happy Thanksgiving.
TO: Sailing Association, Sailing Team & Prospective Recruits
It's hard to believe that the Sailing team just completed its tenth season of competitive racing since our program was resurrected in 2000. I find it hard to believe, also, that in terms of seniority, I'm sixth in line among all coaches in our 45-school MAISA conference. Only the varsity coaches at Georgetown, Hobart, Christopher Newport, St. Mary's & Old Dominion have served longer. Just as consistency is the key to success in College Sailing regattas, stability is very important when building a program and I'm honored and humbled to have been able to provide that element over the past decade.
This fall, our team consisted of 19 student-athletes, who competed in 21 events; 13 MAISA only; seven Interconference competitions, and one offshore regatta. For the first time ever, Fordham won two regattas on the same weekend and three within one season.
Our Women's team earned a berth at the Women's Atlantic Coast Championship by placing seventh at the MAISA Women's Championship, but the highlight of the season was the ninth place finish by the Coed team at the MAISA Coed Championship. This was the best result ever at the WAR Memorial conference championship and by doing so, Fordham:
1. Finished ahead of two of the 10 Varsity programs and all 34 other Club teams in our 45-school conference.
2. Missed qualifying for the Atlantic Coast Championship by only one place
3. Qualified for the America Trophy Spring Championship Regatta for the first time in the fall, and
4. Earned national recognition for the first time ever in the Coach's Poll, which followed the championship weekend. Fordham was 28th among all schools receiving votes and fifth among all Club teams receiving votes. That's out of a universe of 211 colleges/universities and among 175 Club teams nationally.
To realize how far Fordham Sailing has come, consider our 10-year track record.
* In 2000 & 2001, we did not qualify for the WAR Memorial Fall Championship. Since then, Fordham finished 16-11-16-11-13-10-10-9 at this event.
* Our decade-long, year-end ranking is 26-20-17-12-13-11-12-10-9-9.
* At the MAISA Club Team's Championship, which started in 2001, Fordham's track record is: 8-3-1-5-2-1-1-1-2.
Sailing is a Fordham success story and many elements have made it so including the support of the Administration, Fr. McShane, Jeff Gray, Frank McLaughlin and the staff of the Athletic Department; the members of the Sailing Association, who have supported the program both financially and in so many non-financial ways, such as hosting and chaperoning the team at away regattas, providing bailers every fall (Thanks, Sean); donating burgees for Morris Yacht & Beach Club; helping to run and serve on the Race Committee of Fordham-hosted regattas and lending boats to serve as RC boats at such events. I could go on and on but you get the idea.
Then there is my sidekick, Charles "Bud" McEntee '72, former Team Captain and Undergraduate President of MAISA, whose dedication to College Sailing in general and Fordham Sailing in particular is an example for all of us. Without his behind-the-scenes assistance, this program would not be where it is today.
Lastly, kudos must go to the 19 members of this fall's Sailing team. They are a terrific group of young adults, who have demonstrated their commitment to the program via their hard work, sacrifice and dedication. They have built upon the legacy established by their predecessors, who graduated in this century, and taken it up a notch to a new level. All of us are proud of them.
We have a lot to be thankful for, particularly the Fordham Sailing Team and its primary support group, the 156 members of the Fordham University Sailing Association. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!
I know you're not one to blow your own horn, but I'll add kudos to you Joe for all you've done to help the team be successful and represent Fordham so well. Keep up the good work!
