TAMPA, FLA., MARCH 23, 2025 — The University of South Florida women's sailing team delivered a dominant performance at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (SAISA) Top 9 Invitational on Sunday, securing the overall regatta win against a competitive field on St. Petersburg waters.
Seven teams participated in the event, including Clemson, Florida State, Rollins, Jacksonville University, and Palm Beach Atlantic, along with two teams representing South Florida. Racing began at 10 a.m. ET with winds from the east-northeast at 8-10 knots, providing excellent conditions for the early competition.
USF Team 1, featuring Kailey Warrior and Sara Menesale in A division and Ghislaine van Empel and Cate Brennan in B division, established themselves as early frontrunners. Warrior and Menesale secured first place in their division, while van Empel and Brennan finished second in theirs. Their combined scores sealed the regatta victory for the Bulls.
USF Team 2, consisting of Kalea Woodard and Melissa Janes in A division and Grace Jone and Heidi Hicks in B division, faced adversity but still managed a strong showing. Despite a capsize and a disqualification, they finished third and fifth in their respective divisions, earning a fifth-place overall finish.
Competitors returned to the dock shortly after noon for a scheduled break, but the dying breeze prevented any additional racing, leading to an early conclusion of the regatta.
"This was a fantastic effort by both of our teams," said USF head coach Allison Jolly. "Kailey, Sara, Ghislaine, and Cate sailed an incredibly strong and consistent regatta to earn the victory. I'm also proud of our second team for battling through adversity and still securing a solid finish. The conditions were great early on, and it was a wonderful opportunity for our sailors to showcase their skills."
With this victory, the Bulls continue to build momentum as they move further into the spring season.
Follow the team on Twitter and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
About USF Sailing
The USF sailing program has reached the national finals in 11 of the last 12 years. The Bulls finished in the top 10 during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The sailing team is based out of St. Petersburg and has been led since 2014 by head coach Allison Jolly, a former USA Olympian and Gold Medalist, 2016 Florida Sports Hall of Fame inductee and 2019 U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee.
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