Cadets Clinch Inter-Academy Competition

MMA wins lifeboat races and seamanship challenge.

With a clean sweep, Maine Maritime Academy midshipmen won the George C. Previll Memorial Inaugural Inter-Academy Monomoy Challenge on September 8, hosted by SUNY Maritime Academy in Throggs Neck, New York.

In addition to MMA, competing teams included the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, New York; U.S. Coast Guard Academy of New London, Connecticut; SUNY Maritime Academy, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy of Buzzards Bay.

The competition began with a head-to-head monomoy (rescue row boat) race in round-robin format on a 1/3-mile course. MMA brought two boat teams, each consisting of 10 participants—a flag bearer, eight rowers, and a coxswain—that handily bested the fleet.

In an email to MMA President, Bill Brennan, MARAD Administrator, Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, USN, Ret. said, “Whenever your boat was in competition, there was a bone in her teeth and a frothy wake astern. Most impressive.

“Equally impressive was the performance of your folks in the Seamanship competition, which they also captured.”

This portion of the competition challenged skills in a knot-tying relay, heaving line-toss for accuracy and distance, and 200-meter timed lifeboat rescue.

MMA walked away with a beautiful plaque and $4,000 in scholarship money; $2,500 for winning the monomoy race and $1,500 for the seamanship challenge.

“You are obviously preparing well-rounded future ship’s officers in Castine,” said Buzby. “We need them!”

Group photo

MMA brought home a beautiful plaque and $4,000 in scholarship money.

The race was presented by The Marine Society of the City of New York, whose partner sponsors included the Boston Marine Society and Portland Marine Society.

Maine Maritime Academy’s boat teams and support personnel were:

Boat 1:  James Salerno, Stuart, Florida, Flag Bearer; Owen Smith, Gorham, Maine, Rower; Nicholas Leong, Peaks Island, Maine, Rower; Hannah Chase, Warren, Maine, Rower; Kailyn Russell, Bar Harbor, Maine, Rower; Jeb Monigle, Lewes, Delaware, Rower; Kyle Monigle, Lewes, Delaware, Rower; Timothy Wedge, Trenton, Maine, Rower; Adam Norwood, Blue Hill, Maine, Rower, and George Stamatopoulous, Arlington, Virginia, Coxwain.

Boat 2:  Evan McIntire, Shamong, New Jersey, Flag Bearer; Tynan O’Brien, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Rower; Jeremy Serbst, Bristol, Rhode Island, Rower; Patrick Whittman, Lewes, Delaware, Rower; Aaron Hazlerig, Biddeford, Maine, Rower; Dylan Shea, Kennebunk, Maine, Rower; Alexander Snowman, Sarasota, Florida, Rower; Connor Roy, Hampden, Maine, Rower; Christopher Brown, Huntsville, Alabama, Rower; and Ethan Belesca, Chebeague Island, Maine, Coxwain.

Monomoy Group

Robert Pouch ’62 talks with cadets at the Challenge.

Support personnel: Nicholas Forsythe, Hawthorne, New Jersey;  Samuel Battock-Emerson, Kittery, Maine; Mohammed Hasan, Saco, Maine; Henry Adams, Providence, Rhode Island; Augustus Frankwizc, Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Owen Clough, Hillsborough, New Jersey; Christian Shepherd, Franklin, New Hampshire; Vijay Pal-Singh, Hastings-on-the-Hudson, New York; Parker Brownrigg, Lewiston, Maine; Bryon Fogg, Winslow, Maine; Anthony Franchetti, Wilton, Maine; and Gretel Williams, Bristol, Maine; and Jeff Wright, MMA Director of Alumni Relations. Class Officers Lt. Lonnie Christian and Lt. Kyle Willette co-coached the team.

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Captain Larry Wade
6 years ago

I remember the 63 races in NY. Many of my classmates were on the team as well as my brother George. I am happy to say that I voted for the Portland Marine Society to be a sponsor. The race was presented by The Marine Society of the City of New York, whose partner sponsors included the Boston Marine Society and Portland Marine Society. Delighted to see Bob Pouch talking to the cadets. He has been an integral part of NY Harbor for many years. BRAVO ZULU Mariners!

Ken Linscott
6 years ago

Congratulations for a great job well done. Not surprised that MaineMA won all the contests.
Ken Linscott ’62 E

Mike Hatton
6 years ago

MMA – #1 Way to go!!

Eric Wilson
6 years ago

Awesome Job ! Practical Hands On Team Work and Experience, and a blast to boot !

Eric Wilson, 82D

Capt. John C. Chapman '64
6 years ago

Maine Maritime won for the first time in May of 1963, at the international life boat races in New York Harbor.
I believe it was the last races held there.

Russell Kniehl
6 years ago

Congratulations. Carries on the legacy of the 1960’s era lifeboat races held in Washington D.C. as part of Maritime Day events. Maine Maritime was the hands down winner there also. Russ Kniehl class of 1966.

Matt Keller
6 years ago

Brings back memories of fall ’76 capturing the Flag as a member of “B” company!

Great job to all!

Matt Keller, ’84 E

Jonathan Ogle
6 years ago

Great job! Most impressive to be best at these fundamental skills. Congratulations to all involved.

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