ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - St. Mary's College of Maryland's (SMCM) women's sailing team won the Atlantic Coast Championship, sailing's biggest fall event for female college sailors. The team is now ranked first in the nation by Sailing World magazine. The lady Seahawks from the small liberal arts college in Southern Maryland have again proven their worth against sailors from such venerable institutions as Yale, Harvard, Georgetown and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Adam Werblow, the coach of the St. Mary's sailing team, said, "Sometimes when a team reaches a new level of national recognition, they become overwhelmed, but our women took their new ranking as a challenge to perform." And they deserve their laurels, after winning the 17-college championship on November 11-12 in Kings Point, New York, at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The SMCM team defeated second-place Yale University by a six-point margin.
Two SMCM teams competed in the Atlantic Coast Championship. Divisions are equal in points and schools are required to have a team in both divisions. Divisions A sailors were Adrienne Patterson from Newport Beach, CA, Melissa Pumphrey from Annapolis, MD, and Jennifer Chamberlin from Chestertown, MD.
"We are good friends off the water, and we try to motivate each other to improve. I think we made sure to keep a big picture mindset when looking at the season," said Pumphrey.
Division B sailors were Sara Morgan Watters from Oxford, MD and Mattie Farrar from Blain, WA. Farrar said, "I think that our women's team really has great chemistry. We all build off of each other's positive energy, and this helps to keep us doing well."
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First-year sailor Abby Rowland of Shaker Heights, OH, said, "Since I'm a freshman I haven't had as much experience as the other girls with the women's team. I can, however, tell you how crazy it is to be surrounded by girls who are so talented. As a new-comer to the team I feel like everyone wants to help us rookies get better."
St. Mary's College has a long history of sailing championships. Currently, the co-ed team is ranked eleventh in the nation by Sailing World magazine. In 2004, the College won the annual Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA)/Layline North American Team Race Championship. Since 1991 the college has won 10 national sailing championships and produced more than 100 ICSA All-American sailors.
The SMCM women's sailing team consists of Adrienne Patterson (Newport Beach, CA), Melissa Pumphrey (Annapolis, MD), Sara Morgan Watters (Oxford, MD), Mattie Farrar (Blaine, WA), Lauren Durfee (Benicia, CA), Jennifer Chamberlin (Chestertown, MD), Sara Flowe (Severna Park, MD), Bridgin Lee (Bay Head, NJ), Samantha Parisi (Island Heights, NJ), Keisha Pearson (East Patchogue, NY), Abby Rowlands (Shaker Heights, OH), Kelly Wilbur (Ipswich, MA).
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