USF Athletics

USF Posts Top Three Finish in SAISA Championships

April 06, 2021

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 6, 2021 – Behind starters Katie Bornarth and Sam Kappaz, Marina Barzaghi and Carolina Rovira/Lily Theisen, the USF sailing team earned a third place team finish in Saturday's SAISA Conference Championships, hosted in St. Petersburg by USF. 
 
Captain Bornarth and crew Kappaz's boat finished in third out of 10 boats, while Barzaghi, Rovira and Theisen's boat came right behind to finish in fourth. The performances gave USF an overall third place finish in the team standings, good enough to qualify three USF boats to the Women's National Championships in Annapolis, Md., next month. 
 
Eight teams were scheduled to race in the regatta, but three were forced to withdraw due to difficulties with attestation forms. Eight races were sailed with the A and B divisions combined, all courses were rated W-4s and averaged 16 minutes per course. 
 
College of Charleston swept the event, taking the top two spots and winning six out of eight races. Jacksonville finished in second with the Bulls taking the final podium space. 
 
"Late season brisk weather descended for the SAISA Women's Conference Championships. We started with temps in the 50s with high winds gusting to 20 knots," head coach Allison Jolly said. "There was a strong current for Tampa Bay due to an incoming tide all day. The end of the day brought better conditions. I am proud of our team for their finish today, and we anxiously await a decision about if we will be competing in the national championships. I am also grateful to our USF athletic trainer who assisted with probable injuries following a capsize." 
 
USF will compete next in the SAISA Team Race Championships in Charleston, S.C. on April 17 before heading to the National Championships in May. 
 
About USF Sailing
The USF sailing program has reached the national finals in seven of the last eight years. The Bulls finished in the top 10 during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The sailing team is based out of St. Petersburg and led by head coach Allison Jolly, a former USA Olympian and 2016 Florida Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
 
Follow the team on social media (Twitter) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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