June 29, 2012

STANFORD, Calif.-- John Vandemoer and Stanford Sailing, following four individual All-Americans and two top-eight national finishes in 2012, welcomes in six incoming freshmen to its Class of 2016.

Two San Francisco natives from The Branson School, highlight the class in Sami Steele and Antoine Screve. The class also includes skipper Axel Sly (Weston, FL/Cypress Bay HS) and crew Yuki Yoshiyasu (Houston, TX/Clear Lake HS), Noelle Herring (Rancho Santa Fe, CA/Bishop's School) and Michelle Catania (San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS). The group has participated in multiple high school championships, Youth National Championships, Club 420's and been a part of the youth development circuit.

"This is a really talented class," said Vandemoer, who will enter his fifth season in the fall. "We will have four All-Americans back, after only graduating one senior and we are in a great state. Add the incredible freshman class from last year and add this class, and it's the most depth we've had, especially on the coed and women's side."

Screve is one of two San Francisco natives from the Branson School set to join the team this fall. He was a silver medalist at the 2011 Youth World Championships in Croatia and was a Bronze medalist at the 29er Youth Worlds in 2010. He twice sailed for the Youth World Team in the 29er in 2010 and 2011. Internationally, he has also sailed at the European Championships in Barcelona (ninth), the 2009 CORK International Regatta in Kingston, Canada (1st), the 2008 World Championships in Turkey (16th), as well as events in Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Urguay and Sweden. Screve also helped Branson to a fifth place finish at high school nationals.

Steele was not only a varsity captain on the sailing team, but also a all-league doubles player in tennis. In sailing, she finished fifth of 22 teams at the 2011 Pacific Coast prep double handed championships. Steele served as crew for the fourth place team at high school nationals in 2012.

Sly was second at last year's U.S. Youth Championships and also a runner-up at the U.S. 420 Mid-Winter Regatta. Sly will again be sailing at this year's Youth Championships, one of five current or incoming freshmen at the elite youth sailing event for sailors under 19 years old. Screve will also be there from the class of 2017.

Yoshiyasu was the top female at the North American Regatta this past summer and eight overall and finished in the top-10 in every major U.S. event this past year.

Herring studied in Beijing China this past year, and graduated from the Bishop's School in La Jolla, CA outside of San Diego. The varsity skipper on her prep team, she also sailed at 29er Nationals and sailed at the Regional Junior Olympic Regatta in Southern California.

Catania helped her varsity team to the Mallory National Championship Trophy in 2010 and a runner-up finish in 2009. She is an accomplished dancer, specializing in jazz, tap, hip hop and ballet with eight years of instruction. Catania also helped Clear Lake High finish third at the prep national championships in 2002 and also finish third in team racing that same year.

Incoming Sailing Recruits:
Yuki Yoshiyasu, Houston, TX, Clear Lake HS (crew)
Noelle Herring, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, The Bishop's School (crew)
Sami Steele, San Francisco, CA, The Branson School (crew)
Antoine Screve, San Francisco, CA, The Branson School (skipper)
Michelle Catania, San Diego, CA, Cathedral Catholic HS (crew)
Axel Sly, Weston, FL, Cypress Bay HS (skipper)