Severn School Seniors Set Sail For National Championship

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By John Singleton
There is freedom in the snap of a sail… and there is skill in the trimming of the main. There is tradition in being part of the Severn School sailing team.
“Sailing is a unique sport. Each boat has a captain and crew. The captain offers direction. The crew is the captain’s eyes and ears. To be successful teamwork is required,” explained Scott Steele, Head Coach of the Admiral’s sailing program. “At Severn we believe athletics is an extension of the classroom. It’s a place where students are challenged both mentally and physically in their pursuit of personal excellence.”

Severn School’s bond to the water can be found in more than its name. Established in 1914 as a preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy, Severn lost more alumni in World War II, per capita, than any other school in the country. With two WWII Medal of Honor recipients among their graduates, Severn is the oldest private school in Anne Arundel County.
“We take a lot of pride in our history and sailing is a big part of that,” added senior captain Scott Houck, who is excited about the upcoming season. “All the ingredients for a great season are here. I think we have the dedication to work hard and make it happen.”
In 2005, the Severn School administration made a decision to invest in the sailing program. Consistent with their philosophy of athletic pursuits that complement classroom success, a full-time head coach was hired and an investment was made in a fleet of sailing vessels. In 2008, the investment was rewarded with a squad that was recognized as the number one sailing team in the nation.
“The freshmen who participated on the 2008 national championship team are now seniors,” added Steele, a 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist in Sail Boarding. “Our goal this season is no less than a national team racing championship and a national fleet racing championship.”
Seniors Terry Duncan, Mike Salvi, Kaylee Schwitzer, Tim Harding, Lydi Whiteford, Kelly DeStefano, Kate Harris, Katlyn Flynn and Kate Wysocki provide leadership for this high-achieving squad of sailors. With their sights set on the national team racing championships May 20-22 in Norfolk, VA, and the fleet racing championships May 7 and May 8 in Austin, TX, the Admirals are emphasizing team chemistry in a sport where quick maneuvers in tight quarters sometimes means missing another boat by inches on the way to the finish line.
“Our team is very lucky to have sailors with so much experience. For many of us, this is our last season of high school sailing and we are looking to end on a high note,” summarized Houck, who will be attending Dartmouth in the fall. “We have great coaches who have helped us set high goals for the spring, but we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us to reach them.”
Head Coach Steele is assisted by Anne Megargel and Mecael Yuan. The coaching staff foresees a talented group of underclassmen including Patrick Floyd, Maeve White, and Will Lagarde supporting the seniors this season and eventually assuming the reigns of the Severn Sailing program in 2012.

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