Brendan FeeneyStill the best. As expected, heavy breeze presented them with some challenges at the Graham dropping races to Navy and Rog and having to work out of losing combos in several others. Their record so far this year: 65 and 5. Nobody else is even close on percentage terms.
Chris KlevanTwo thumbs up
Charles HigginsConsistently still the best team...but not untouchable
Brendan FeeneySome say quality over quantity; Stanford says how about both. They have sent teams all over the country and have experienced very solid results. To boot, Sailor of the Year Finalist Sitzmann has been absent from the lineup. They can run away from mid-level teams, but as evidenced at the Graham Hall, sometimes struggle to beat the best. They'll need to find a way to break through if they want to beat the Crimson at Tulane next month.
Charles HigginsMissing a starting skipper and shuffling the lineup the past two weeks and this team is still getting better.
Brendan FeeneyLike Stanford, they believe in reps: send teams to multiple regattas per weekend, and oh yes, "we will also do very well at those regattas with our second team often beating others' firsts." They looked untouchable on Day 1 of the Graham, but came back to Earth on Day 2 -- unable to win a race in the final four. A lot hinges on the mental side for this team. Either their Senior starters relax, lean on their experience and race with confidence, or they become challenged by the reality that this is their last season, start to feel the pressure and will inevitably face challenging races down the stretch. We'll have to keep a close eye on them at regattas.
Chris KlevanStill good. A bit of a collapse at the Graham Hall, but you have to be 15-0 to have a dissapointing finish and 15-0 is never easy at a big time event.
Charles HigginsA few more losses recently, but still one of the most dangerous teams in the field
Brendan FeeneyThey have surpised us all. Callahan has kept his lineup consistent and the sailors have delivered with results. They won the Szambecki and made the final four at the Graham, all the while maintaining a winning record against their arch arrival NADS. The stage is set for the Prosser in two weeks and host Cornell will provide a neutral venue as compared with last year's racing in Annapolis. I look at starting as the main focal point for this team. Start well and they are in convesration with the best, but when they struggle on the line wins at Nationals will be hard to come by. Something tells me they will fire off many practice starts between now and Easter weekend and Tulane a few weeks after that.
Chris KlevanReally good, good boat handling, good speed. Just good.
Charles HigginsLike. their women's team, the development over the past few weeks is showing this team to really start to come together at the right time
Brendan FeeneyI'm still bullish on this team as I have been throughout the season. They won the John Jackson, took a weekend off, and then had a solid showing at the Friis, including a win over Rog., 2 over Charleston, and 2 over Stanford. Top 8 and even top 4 at Nats are not out of the question if they can discover the right mixture of experience from Seniors Busch, Redmond, and Joslyn and energy from Freshman Krygsveld.
Chris KlevanVery good, as always.
Charles HigginsLooking really solid, and nipping at the heels of the top 2 NEISA teams
Brendan FeeneyThey were lightning quick at the Graham. That is their strength. Is their weakness the cold? Luckliy they won't have to contend with that at Tulane next month. However, at the Graham they suffered from some frustrations that boiled over into audible outcries that could be heard from shore. Those they cannot afford if trying to run with the bet teams, especially with older umpires presiding over upcoming regattas. Assistant Ian Barrows has expereince preforming under pressure at the highest level, will be able to provide confidence to this group.
Chris KlevanGood. But not consistently great.
Charles HigginsWe may have only seen their starting lineup once so far-and it was really good.
Brendan FeeneyIt is safe to say that they have underperformed expectations to date. The boat speed has not been what it was at the Nats at St. Mary's last May. It doesn't mean they can't turn it around, but they need a spark from Seniors Smith and Alex. The stage is set for a clash with Georgetown at the Prosser.
Chris KlevanDespite bringing back a team eerily similar to last year's squad, they are jumping off the page like they did a year ago. Growing pains perhaps. But also, sailing is a fickle sport.
Charles HigginsThis team is really hard to gauge. They're good enough to beat anyone-and they typically do beat the top teams at regattas. Too many losses to be considered in the top group at the moment though
Brendan FeeneyThus far these Bears are not the Chicago Bears of this most recent NFL season. They have struggled. At the Graham they had a hard time keeping pace and staying out of foul trouble. We know the ceiling is high for this bunch, so maybe they are just yet to get airborne. Thye better get going soon becasue the Hawks and Crimson will soar away.
Chris KlevanStarted the season a tad sleepy. But I'm sure they'll wake up sooner or later.
Charles HigginsA bit of a slip the past 2 weeks, plenty of talent and ability though to get hot at the right time
Brendan FeeneyThey beat Navy twice at the Szambecki and Stanford on a black flag, but couln't touch Gtown. They have immense talent as eveidenced by their recent fleet racing success. Can they find the consistency on the starting line and in executing passbacks and the discipline to succeed down the stretch?
Chris KlevanThis team is still young, somehow. I could see a lightbulb moment coming for them soon.
Charles HigginsStill getting stronger. Won't get to see them in action nationally until after conference champs
Brendan FeeneyThey did not compete this past weekend and struggled at Conn 2 weeks ago, despite the top NEISA teams being away at the Graham Hall. Junior Pinckney is capable of running with the best in the conference, but they have to get him going ASAP. Coach Leonard always has something up his sleeve when it comes to athlete psych, so let's see what he can cook up this time.
Chris KlevanI'm confident this team will come together when it counts. They always do.
Charles HigginsBig drop at the SNETR, but seemingly missing some likely starters.
Brendan FeeneyThey sailed the Szambecki and finished about where they always do in a regatta that usually marks the beginning of their more competitive portion of the season. To make noise in NEISA and Nats, they will need to lean on Sophomore Decker.
Chris KlevanChase Decker is very good and I'm sure the team will come together around him soon.
Charles HigginsComing out of spring break looking much improved. Could be a blessing that NEISA hasn't seen them in a little while
Brendan FeeneyThey ended up mid-pack at the Graham and showed this wekend at KP that they can take care of the majority of the field. They will need to lean on their practice, and get their lineup as fast, smart, and disciplined as possible if they want to have a chance to pull off an upset over Navy and Georgetown at the Prosser. They will need to look at the regatta as NFL teams do late-season dividional matchups: they might not be favored on paper, but in divisional-rivalrous play anything is possible.
Charles HigginsNear the top of the second tier in MAISA, still time to make their case and make it into the nationals field
Brendan FeeneyMuch better than many expected and they are committed to traveling North to play against the main field. They have shown well on the results, including a win over Stanford at the Graham. I could see people sleeping on this team at Nationals, and finding that this team ends up pulling off several solid wins in the round of 16. Is top 8 out of the question? Not if things continue to go as they have.
Charles HigginsCould have a shot at an at-large berth.
Brendan FeeneyExpect them to pull off some suprising upsets, but to be on the fringe for a Nationals birth. They will benefit from their disciplined culture which, becasue of their service to DHS transcends their sailing team, but it is also nicely upheld by Coach Thompson and company.
