The NEISA Awards Committee has released the 2023 NEISA Watch List. The committee has worked to identify the top NEISA sailors contending for the NEISA Open Sailor of the Year, Women’s Sailor of the Year, Babineau Crew of the Year, Women’s Crew of the Year, Open Rookie of the Year and Women’s Rookie of the Year awards. Players were identified based on results to date from the 2022 Fall season.
The NEISA Open and Women’s Sailors of the Year honors the best skippers in the conference. NEISA Sailor of the Year winners and finalists have a strong record of becoming finalists and winners of the ICSA Sailor of the Year Award.
The Babineau Trophy honors the Coast Guard Academy sailor and cadet Julie Babineau, and recognizes the most outstanding crew in NEISA across all competition. The Women’s Crew of the Year recognizes the best crew in women’s competitions.
The Open and Women’s Rookie of the Year recognizes sailors in the class of 2026 who, in their first year of college, hold an outstanding record in Open and Women’s competition. Both crews and skippers are eligible for these award.
The NEISA Awards Committee is composed of five members who select the Watch List honorees. In selecting honorees, the committee considers the quality and quantity of a sailor’s competitive record, with particular regard for the following factors: how the record compares to those of fellow competitors, the quality of competition in which the record was achieved, results achieved competing with different skippers and crews, whether the record spans the Fall and/or Spring seasons, and how the record compares to those of All-NEISA sailors selected in previous years. The committee does not consider the following factors: candidates’ records in previous years, or candidates’ records in non-collegiate events. While these standout players are the initial contenders, all players are eligible for NEISA Awards.
NEISA Awards Committee:
Rebecca McElvain – chair
Jeff Bresnahan
Gloria Kevliciute
John Mollicone
Matt Peter
NEISA Open Skipper of the Year Watch List:
Robert Bragg ’23, Dartmouth College
Sam Bruce ’24, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Justin Callahan ’26, Harvard University
Carmen Cowles ’25, Yale University
Jack Egan ’24, Yale University
Maddie Hawkins ’24, Dartmouth College
Lachlain McGranahan ’24, Harvard University
Connor Nelson ’24, Brown University
Liam O’Keefe’26, Brown University
NEISA Women’s Skipper of the Year Watch List:
Cordelia Burn ’25, Harvard University
Sarah Burn ’24, Harvard University
Carmen Cowles ’25, Yale University
Emma Cowles ’25, Yale University
Dana Haig ’22, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Maddie Hawkins ’24, Dartmouth College
Blaire McCarthy ’23, Brown University
Mia Nicolosi ’25, Yale University
NEISA Women’s Crew of the Year Watch List:
Carmen Berg ’26, Yale University
Corinne Lee ’23, Harvard University
Grace Mao ’23, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sarah Moeder ’26, Yale University
Juliana Ruggieri ’23, Harvard University
Sara Schumann ’25, Boston College
Aisling Sullivan ’22, Dartmouth College
Helena Ware ’23, Yale University
Savannah Young ’25, Brown University
NEISA Babineau Crew of the Year Watch List:
Izzy Cox ’23, Brown University
Jack Farrell ’23, Coast Guard Academy
Kennedy Leehealey ’26, Harvard University
Benjamin Markert ’23, Yale University
Pomaika’i Ogata ’24, Harvard University
Nora Ong ’23, Brown University
Maaya Prasad ’22, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Aisling Sullivan ’22, Dartmouth College
Catherine Webb ’23, Yale University
Yumi Yoshiyasu ’24, Dartmouth College
NEISA Open Rookie of the Year Watch List:
Justin Callahan ’26, Harvard University
Kennedy Leehealey ’26, Harvard University
Liam O’Keefe ’26, Brown University
NEISA Women’s Rookie of the Year Watch List:
Okyanus Akrian ’26, University of Rhode Island
Carmen Berg ’26, Yale University
Sarah Moeder ’26, Yale University
Caroline Sibilly ’26, Boston College