MMA sailing team captures LA regatta Mariners overtake faltering Trojans

It isn’t often you’ll see a team from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine matched up against the likes of the University of Southern California – and emerge victorious.

That’s exactly what happened last weekend in San Pedro, Calif., where the Mariners’ sailing team won the inaugural Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup Regatta.

MMA, coached by world-renowned sailor Tom Brown, beat out USC and six other teams in the three-day competition hosted by California Maritime Academy.

The Mariners finished strong, winning the seventh race and taking second in the eighth and final event to score 22 points and edge USC by one point. The Trojans had held a solid eight-point lead going into the last two races, but faltered by winding up sixth and seventh, respectively.

USC finished tied for second with the United States Naval Academy (23 points), while Cal Maritime was fourth (29).

Maine Maritime registered six top-three finishes in the eight races, including three firsts and two seconds. The competition was sailed on Congressional Catalina 37’s using seven-person crews.

Senior Matt Stephens of Orrs Island captained the Mariners contingent, which also included senior Marc Gauthier of Sandwich, Mass., juniors Lester Closson of Bass Harbor and Graham Fitch of Penobscot, sophomores Matt Bourque of East Sandwich, Mass., and Jonathan Kovach of Charleston, S.C., and freshman John Colburn of Norwich, Vt.

MMA is heading into its third weekend of competition, the Central Series, Saturday and Sunday at Boston College.

Colby has two All-Americans

Arthur Fritch and T.J. Kelley of Colby College in Waterville have ended the season by earning spots on the American Hockey Coaches Association Division III Men’s Hockey All-America first team.

Fritch, of South Boston, Mass., became the second Colby player to be named an All-American twice. The three-time All-New England Small College Athletic Association selection, is the Mules’ career scoring leader among defensemen with 32 goals and 84 assists for 116 points.

Kelley, of Ridgefield, Conn., was the NESCAC Player of the Year after gaining his second all-conference nod. He led the league in scoring last winter with 43 points and ranked second in goals (19) and assists (24). He also scored nine power-play goals.

Kelley finished his career in 10th place on Colby’s all-time scoring list with 126 points.

“T.J. and Arthur are worthy to be considered [among] the best players in the entire country,” Colby coach Jim Tortorella said in a release. “It’s an honor to have been involved in their development as players and, most importantly, their growth as people.”

Defenseman Mike Westerman of Ann Arbor, Mich., a senior at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, was accorded second-team recognition. He led the Polar Bears in scoring (31 points) en route to All-NESCAC second-team honors.

Colby 400 medley relay honored

The Colby swimming and diving team’s 400-yard medley relay team also gained All-America status this season.

The quartet of Kelsey Potdevin, Kelly Norsworthy, Maddie Given and Chelsea Heneghan finished eighth at the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships recently, finishing with a time of 3 minutes, 58.92 seconds in the championship finals.

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