Following the Team GBR model

US Sailing launch under 18 and 23 Olympic squads

35 youth sailors have been selected for the newly-launched US Sailing Team - Under 18 (U18) and US Sailing Team - Under 23 (U23), US Sailing announced today. These talented athletes have been identified as future Olympic prospects, and US Sailing is dedicated to guiding them from youth programs to the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program. US Sailing will provide the US Sailing Team - U18 and US Sailing Team - U23 with elite-level coaching, as well as educational, administrative and logistical support throughout the year.

The US Sailing Team - U18 includes the top sailors in the Laser Radial (boys), Laser Radial (girls), 29er (open) and I420 (boys or girls) classes, who were born after January 1, 1991. The US Sailing Team - U23 consists of the top sailors born after January 1, 1986 in each of the Laser (men) and Laser Radial (women) classes. As a long-time supporter of youth racing, LaserPerformance is an official sponsor of both teams.

The following athletes have been named to the US Sailing Team – U18:

US Sailing Team – U18: Laser Radial (girls)
Emily Billing (Clearwater, Fla.)
Arielle deLisser (Miami, Fla.)
Marissa Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Emily Stubbs (Rye, N.Y.)

US Sailing Team – U18: Laser Radial (boys)
Chris Barnard (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Mitchell Kiss (Holland, Mich.)
Drew Shea (Wilmette, Ill.)
Mateo Vargas (Treasure Island, Fla.)
John Wallace (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

US Sailing Team – U18: 29er (open)
Mac Agnese (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Ian Simms (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
Julia Paxton (Sebastopol, Calif.) and Samantha C.C. Childers (San Diego, Calif.)
Antoine Screve (San Francisco, Calif.) and James Moody (Tiburon, Calif.)

US Sailing Team – U18: I420 (boys or girls)
Jordan Factor (Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) and Matt Wefer (Glen Head, N.Y.)
Marlena Fauer (New York, N.Y.) and Christina Lewis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Morgan Kiss (Holland, Mich.) and Laura McKenna (Lake Forest, Ill.)
Ian Liberty (Colt’s Neck, N.J.) and Alex Whipple (Plandome, N.Y.)
Judge Ryan (San Diego, Calif.) and Chris Segerblom (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
Oliver Toole (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Hans Henken (Coronado, Calif.)

The following athletes have been named to the US Sailing Team – U23:
US Sailing Team – U23: Laser (men)
Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Robert Crane (Darien, Conn.)
Cam Cullman (Rye, N.Y.)
Derick Vranizan (Shoreline, Wash.)
Kyle Rogachenko (Collegeville, Pa.)
Luke Lawrence (Palm City, Fla.)

US Sailing Team – U23: Laser Radial (women)
Claire Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.)
Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

US Sailing selected these top athletes based on outstanding Sailing resume, including regatta results and awards as well as a proposed training plan for the 2009 season. Sailors who have qualified for the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) were not eligible for the U18 or U23 teams.

The US Sailing Team - U18 and US Sailing Team - U23 will be led by elite coaches, including Leandro Spina (Miami, Fla.) for the doublehanded classes and Bern Noack (Boston, Mass.) for the singlehanded classes. These coaches will work closely with US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Director of Sailing/Head Coach, Kenneth Andreasen and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Olympic Coach Luther Carpenter, as well as US Sailing’s Performance Enhancement Team (PET). The PET includes physical trainers, dietitians and sports psychologists, who will assist the sailors at training camps and some events.

US Sailing will assist these team members gain invaluable experience by competing at major national and international regattas. Sailors will learn to prepare and execute the necessary steps to compete at the highest level, campaign for the U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and choose, prepare and maintain Olympic class equipment.