US SAILING's College Sailor of the Week

The May 19th female college sailor of the week was Medora Sletten from the
University of St. Thomas. Sletten, a senior on the team has served both as a skipper and a crew and is known for her versatility. She was recognized as an MCSA All Conference Crew this year and has contributed to the Tommies growth and success. In the season finally, University of Minnesota’s Gopher Invite, Medora lead the team to an overall finish of third and placed second in A division.

It was another memorable season for Pelican Lake sailors from the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota (Nick Hovland, Brandon Wilson, Kirstin Wilson, Brady Solum and myself, Medora Sletten). As we look back on the Fall season we have a lot to be proud, both on and off the water.

Each semester the underdogs of St. Thomas have been moving up in the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association (MCSA) and proving that even as a small team we can do big things. Minnesota continued their winning tradition with another great semester and many wins.

St. Thomas hosted its second Tommie Cup, which was a huge success thanks to our parents wonderful cooking,　and Minnesota hosted the Streufert Team Racing Regatta. Both teams finished in the top three for each regatta. While Kirstin and I were at Women’s at the University of Wisconsin, the St. Thomas and Minnesota men headed off for the first ever MCSA Sonar Match Race in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Brandon, Nick, Brady and I also sailed in the Sloop Championship in Detroit - where stories from the weekend’s adventures are brought home more often than trophies.

After eight regattas and ten weeks of practice,　we all finished the regular season at Area West in Madison, Wisconsin where both teams qualified for the Timme Angsten Memorial Regatta in Chicago over Thanksgiving Break, a favorite regatta of all of ours. We experienced typical shifty Chicago breezes and tough competition,　but in the end St. Thomas finished second and Minnesota finished third to the University of Wisconsin.

With both teams sailing at the Wayzata Community Sailing Center, it says a lot about our coaching staff that they can create two teams who constantly fight each other for the finish line. Although it’s friendly competition, we push them just as much as they push us, at the same time cheering each other on.

For now, all we can do is look forward to the Spring season and hopefully another trip to Nationals. But no matter the outcome, we’ll have fun. Nick and Brandon will continue to battle it out in A’s, while Brady and I will have another season of one-upping each other in B’s, and Kirstin crewing for either division.

For me, Brandon and Nick it’s a bittersweet feeling knowing we　only have one more semester before we leave college sailing behind. It sure is fun going through it all together – there truly is never a dull moment.

Making waves at nationals
By Daniel Grimmer-Staff writer

The St. Thomas sailing team qualified as a top five finisher in the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association, sending it to the national competition in Boston.  Thirty-six teams were split into two groups of 18 at the national competition.  St. Thomas finished 15th overall.  “We were very pleased with our performance,” junior Medora Sletten said.  “Making it all the way to the semi-   finals was a huge landmark for our team. We have come a long way in the past few years and have really made a name for ourselves in the MCSA.”
The team enjoyed the experience of competing in Boston.  “We were truly among the best of the best and were very grateful to be there,” Sletten said. But being from such a small school, the team had to deal with being unrecognized. “No one knew where we were from,” Sletten said.  “Everyone kept asking us if we were from St.Thomas the island.”  The team competes mostly against Big Ten schools and other large universities, making its accomplishments unique. Some of the competitors included Boston University, Harvard, Boston College, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, South Florida, Stanford and Yale.  “We have worked hard at practice and taken our sport seriously, but we never stop having fun out on the water,” Sletten said. “That’s what sailing is all about, friendly competition. [We’re] all
sailing because we love it.”  The sailing team is made up of Sletten, senior Charlie Igo, sophomore Matthew Weishan and junior Brandon Wilson. Sailing is a club sport at St.Thomas. Its region, the MCSA, is part of the Intercollegiate Sailing Association.  Unlike many other sports, the sailing season has events in the fall and spring.  The team practices with the University of Minnesota on Lake Minnetonka at the Wayzata Community Sailing Center, and events take place across the Midwest.  “Each weekend, all the college sailingteams drive around the Midwest and come to one location and race,” Sletten said. “It’s great because every weekend you get to see the same sailors from all over, but you’re always in a new state.”  Although the club is small with only four members, it has contributed to St.  Thomas and the tradition of athletic success, against the odds of larger, more renowned schools.


Click Here for video interview

 

 

 

Our College sailors dominate at the Midwest Qualifiers at Notre Dame!

 

University of Minnesota finished 2nd overall and St. Thomas finished 3rd overall in the Coed Dinghy Championships.  The top five teams qualify for the semi-finals at Harvard May 2-3.  Brandon Wilson finished 2nd overall for St Thomas, Nick Hovland finished 3rd overall for University of Minnesota and Medora Sletten finished 6th overall for St. Thomas as they lead their teams to 2nd place finish for University of Minnesota and 3rd place finish for St. Thomas in the11 team competition.  If they do well at Harvard, the finals are in Stanford in early June.  A couple weeks earlier, Brandon and Medora won the Hawkeye Invitational held at University of Iowa.

 

See the results below:

 

1          Wisconsin                   18   40   58

2          Minnesota                   44   47   91

3          St. Thomas                  36   56   92

4          Michigan                    61   33   94

5          Northwestern             61   41  102

6          Notre Dame                54   56  110

7          Miami                         79   49  128

8          Michigan State           88   95  183

9          Marquette                   86  101  187

10        Ohio State                   99   89  188

11        Owens                         107  126  233

 

Congratulations Nick!!! 

Congratulations to Nick Hovland who was named one of the 2008 ALL CONFERENCE TEAM co-ed skippers at the recent MCSA Midwinters held in Chicago.

 Nick was also re-elected Commodore of the University of Minnesota sailing team for next year.

Also sailing for the University of Minnesota are Tommy Stadum and Kirsten Wilson.

 Congratulations also go to Medora Sletten and Brandon Wilson from the University of St.Thomas.  Medora was re-elected Commodore of St. T's sailing team and Brandon was re-elected Co-Captain.

Medora Sletten and Brandon Wilson from the University of St. Thomas, and Nick Hovland from the University of Minnesota recently competed in the 62nd Timme Angsten Regatta held at the Chicago Yacht Club over Thanksgiving weekend. The Timme’s is the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association’s Fall Championship. Shifty winds and the potential for extreme cold is a feature college racers expect during this regatta.

When asked about the regatta, Medora said: "We all had yet another memorable time at this year’s Timme's. The weather was better than expected on the first 2 days,  which made for fun sailing. The third day was a little rough,  but we survived. Brandon, Nick and I enjoyed having our families in attendance."

1          Salve Regina               45
2          Wisconsin                    55
3          Tufts                            69
4          Minnesota                   84
5          Middlebury                 87
6          Michigan                     92
7          John Carroll                 94
8          St. Thomas                  101
9          Northwestern              135
10        Ohio State                   147
11        Notre Dame                149

Cody Sletten, brother of PLYC Sailing School instructor, Medora Sletten, just completed a three month North-Atlantic tour aboard the Barque Picton Castle, a tallship based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.

 The Picton Castle program offers paying sail trainees an opportunity to sail as deckhands on a traditional square-rigged ship. Everyone on board participates in the ship's operation: handling sails, scrubbing the deck, taking a turn at the wheel, raising anchor, hauling on lines, helping in the galley, going aloft, or keeping lookout.  Cody's tour took him from Norway to Mallorca, Spain via the Netherlands, Germany, UK and France.

The University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas had a great start to the 2008 Fall Racing season last weekend on Lake Minnetonka at the first ever St. Thomas Invite. The U of M “A” team, with local sailor Nick Hovland, secured 1^st place overall and also 1^st place in the “A” division. The St. Thomas White Team, also with local sailors Medora Sletten and Brandon Wilson, placed 3^rd overall. The U of M freshman team with area sailors, Kirsten Wilson and Tommy Stadum, finished 4^th place overall; which gave them a terrific initiation into colligate sailing.

Seven boats weathered cooler temperatures and good breezes to have a great fall afternoon!  The race was open to all members and in a more relaxed setting. It started in the middle of the lake and headed into the wind to the west end of the lake, downwind to the east end of the lake and finished back in the middle.  Winds out of the NW at 10 to 20 made for a fast race and a full length spinnaker run.  Brad & Carol Schlossman finished 1st, and were rewarded with a bottle of 1999 Joseph Phelps Cabernet.  Shortly after the race finished, Allyn's mast broke in two (picture was at the start of the race before it broke) and rain and  hail pellets started coming down to add the the commotion.

The last race of the season was cancelled because of high winds, but the annual meeting went on.  The usual awards were passed out and then on to the annual business meeting.  Brad Schlossman was elected Commodore, Roger Stadum-Vice Commodore, Brad Burgum-Treasure, Chris Thysell-Secretary, Jeff Peltier-Communications/Sailing School Chairman, Dick Chadinha-Facility/Slip Chairman, Carol Schlossman-Social Chairman, Rhonda Loberg-Wallwork Chairman, Gary Ostbye-C Fleet Captain, Bob Leonard-Open Fleet Captain.  Dick Chadinha (Facilities), Chris Thysell (race courses), Rhonda Loberg (Wallwork Regatta), and Jeff Peltier (Sailing School) were awarded Tilley Hats for the extra time and effort they donated to make things happen.

The 2nd annual "College Style" regatta was postponed one day because of high winds.  Sunday turned out to be a wonderful afternoon, with 10 to 15 mph breeze out of the NW.  Five races were run in about an hours time.  The courses  are quite short and each race took about 10 minutes.  As you can see by the picture on the right, the boats stayed quite close together.  On the left are the participants with their participation awards.

This Saturday (July 12^th) at 1:00pm will be the 2^nd annual simulated “College Style” regatta.  It will feature 4 or our current competitive college sailors, 2 more that have graduated from high school and will compete at college this fall, and a mix of other young and aspiring sailors.  They will be using five club 420s and the courses will be very short, so they are normally very close together right to the finish.  If you have a chance, come out and watch the action.

    What a great culmination to a wild week the progressive dinner was.  Thanks to Brad and Carol Schlossman and to Nick Valentine and Sherry Trepp for hosting the main course and the desserts respectively.  It was a great turnout and a good time was had by all. The food was absolutely great as usual and the desserts were magnificent and plentiful.  Welcome to our new members.  Hope you all had a good time.

    Thanks also to Jeff and Ann Peltier for all their work during the week after the great rainstorm that destroyed so many docks and boats at noon last Wednesday. We lost all the panels from the docks,  while the wind tipped and lifted a few boats from their lifts, and did some minor damage to fiberglass, sails, rudders and centerboards.  We were very lucky at the club, but some of our members on the north side of the lake were not as fortunate.

    The summer will get into its swing this coming weekend with Midsummer's Eve- the longest day of the year- on Saturday, June 21.  Hope we can all take advantage of the long evening with a sunset sail!

Tom Riley

Commodore

The teams had a strong finish at the Gopher Invite hosted by Minnesota this past weekend. The last race of the season finished with Minnesota's
three teams and St. Thomas' one crossing the finish line 1-2-3-4.

"It was the perfect finish to a great season" Sletten said about the race.

They all look forward to starting the year again in the fall with the first regatta of the season hosted by St. Thomas September 6-7.

From left to right: Ben Burgum (coach), Brandon Wilson,

                          Nick Hovland, and Medora Sletten

Pelican Lake Yacht Club has a new Burgee

The new burgee fits the criteria of a properly designed burgee, which means it views much better from a distance and should last much longer.  It incorporates a portion of the

 "P" signal flag  and a portion on the

"L" signal flag   in the shape of our lake.

The Burgees cost $25 (non-members $35).  To purchase one, contact Anne Peltier peltier@loretel.net    

Sailor and former student of PLYC Sailing school, David Schlossman

is studying abroad in Perth, Australia at Curtain University.  David has been taking advantage of the summer in Perth by teaching sailing on Wednesday evenings to children at the Perth Yacht Club and has been Kite Boarding in both Safety Bay and on the Indian Ocean on the West Coast of Australia

Nick Hovland (U of M) was named a 2008 MCSA All-District Sailor.

Nick had this to say about receiving the award … “It was definitely a big surprise receiving the award. I have no idea how they pick the all-district sailors or what it takes to be an all-district sailor, but I do know many others who deserve this award. I feel very lucky.”

Medora Sletten and Brandon Wilson (University of St. Thomas) also represented their sailing team at the MCSA Midwinter’s conference Feb 9-11 in Chicago where regattas for the 2008 Spring and Fall season are scheduled. Both the U of M and STT will be racing in their first regattas this spring the weekend of March 29-30. Brrrrr!!!!!

The other big news from these Pelican Lake college sailors is that Brandon Wilson is now one of the Co-captains of the St. Thomas sailing team and Medora Sletten is their new Commodore. Nick Hovland is the new Commodore for the University of Minnesota.

“It's pretty cool that Medora and I get to be the Commodores of our teams,” Nick said. “So far, it's been a lot of work aside from school, but I enjoy doing it.”

Congratulations to all!