Marblehead High School Fishwagons Recall Fall and Spring Successes

The MHS Sailing team’s season ended two weeks ago with the Massachusetts State Championship where they tied for second place, continuing the team’s success from the fall where they placed in the top half at regional and national events.  The team placed second in the Casco Bay Open in Portland, Maine with two first place finishes and seven top five finishes and third in the Xavier Fall Invitational in Middletown, Connecticut with three first place finishes and 15 top five finishes. The team traveled down to the US Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut for the Lawrence A White Trophy where the team placed 11th, with three top five finishes, against boats from Florida and Minnesota.  To finish the fall season, the team traveled to the Atlantic Coast Championship in Annapolis, Maryland and placed fifth where they got one first place finish and got 11 top five finishes out of all of their races. To qualify for the championship the team placed first at the Arnold Brown Invitational in Martha’s Vineyard a month earlier with five first place finishes and 15 top five finishes in 16 races. The Atlantic Coast Championship was attended by only 18 schools from as far away as Florida, Wisconsin and California. 

The team had a very strong season, even after their coach of over 20 years, Nick Burke, decided to retire.  Mark Tarmey, the director of Athletics at Marblehead High School remarked, “I thought you had a great season. Nick did an outstanding job building the program... Nick was, and still is, valuable to Parker [Dwyer, the new Fishwagons coach] and to the team, but to transition right from Nick to Parker was seamless.” Mr. Tarmey continued, commending Parker Dwyer on his first year as coach: “Parker brought a lot of innovative methods and experience on the water. I think he was a great hire.”  Captain Sara Krypel, on having Parker as coach, said: “Parker did an amazing job his first season. Our team dynamic is unique from any other, and he picked it up right away. Also with our new practice schedule I am confident in saying Parker helped each one of us improve with his coaching. We all learned a lot from him, and had a great time as well.”  Commenting on the team’s performance at regattas this past spring and fall season, Captain Renee Torrie said, “This year the team took its racing to the next level. We're moving in the direction of being one of the top few teams in New England. I'm most proud of our 5th at ACCs, 2nd at Downeast, and winning A fleet at Women's New England's. I was impressed by the whole team's incredible dedication this season.”  Captain Alan McKinnon summed up the Fishwagon’s season overall when he said, “Overall the Fishwagons had a very successful season. The team dynamic was better than ever, and there was little problem with our transition to a new coach. It has been an honor serving as captain of the team,” McKinnon concluded.  

The team had a very good fall and spring season with some top place finishes in major regattas along the eastern seaboard.  The team represented Marblehead at national invitationals such as the Atlantic Coast Championship and the Lawrence A White Trophy as well as the New England women’s championship and state championships in Maine and Massachusetts during the spring season.  “The sailors did a great job,” Tarmey commented. “Coaches need good athletes and you have to be committed to the sport. The intelligence, dexterity, flexibility and knowledge of conditions (the wind and weather and rain and current) make sailing more difficult than other sports.”  

Congratulations to the team on a great season and good luck next fall when it starts again!