FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Marlieke de Lange Eaton
401-683-0800
US SAILING
Names Top Youth Sailors to
2008 Elite Youth Development Sailing Team
Portsmouth, R.I. (December 6, 2007) – US SAILING has named six of the
nation's top youth singlehanded sailors to the 2008 US Elite Youth
Development Sailing Team. Launched by US SAILING in 2007, this team was
created for young athletes who have been identified as future Olympic
prospects.
Three Laser Radial and three Laser Full Rig sailors were selected for the
2008 team from a pool of over 40 applicants. In addition, five individuals
were named as Honorable Mention candidates.
The Laser Radial team members include: Emily Billing (Clearwater, Fla.),
Anne Haeger (Lake Forest, Ill.), and Sarah Lihan (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). The
Laser Full Rig team members include: Luke Lawrence (Palm City, Fla.), Kyle
Rogachenko (Collegeville, Pa.), and Derick Vranizan (Seattle, Wash.).
Honorable Mention sailors are Claire Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.) and Maggie
Shea (Wilmette, Ill.) in the Laser Radial, and Charlie Buckingham (Newport
Beach, Calif.), Zack Marks (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Royce Weber (Surf
City, N.J.) in the Laser Full Rig.
The Elite Youth Development Team provides its members with national
coaching, educational, administrative, and financial-support structure. To
help these young athletes gain more sailing experience at the highest
levels, team members travel to major international regattas and are
supported by elite-level coaches.
The Honorable Mention candidates, a new distinction added for the 2008
season, will be able to gain access to elite-level coaches at events
attended by the team.
The team's initial focus is on the singlehanded classes. Over time, the
intention is to broaden the program to also include other Olympic classes.
For more information on the US Elite Youth Development Sailing Team, please
visit the team web site at
www.ussailing.org/olympics/EYDT/2008/team.asp.
The US Elite Youth Development Sailing Team is managed by US SAILING,
national governing body of the sport. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in
Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport
of sailing in the United States. US SAILING offers training and education
programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of
sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates,
and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the
country, including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit
www.ussailing.org.
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