June 26, 2003

Milwaukee, WI - Top Sailing Team recruit, Emery Wager of Seattle, Washington has sucessfully dominated the US SAILING's U.S. Youth Championship. Wager, who will attend Stanford this fall and will undoubtedly become a major force on the 8th-ranked Coed Sailing Team, won the Laser class over 35 of the nation's best youth sailors. Wager and the doublehanded winners of the event have been named to the 2003 U.S. Youth Sailing Team. "The existing team has been buzzing via email about Emery's performance all week," commented Head Coach Jay Kehoe, "Emery will help continue the dynasty being built by skippers like ICSA All-American Dave Phillips '04 and Brian Haines '06."

In his fourth time to the US Youth Championship, Wager dominated the Laser fleet from the first day. Emery scored eight bullets a fourth and a fifth for 17 total points. He was so far ahead that he didn't have to sail in the final race. Wager credits his win to good practice. "In Seattle, we can sail year round. I can practice in a variety of conditions on Puget Sound as well as Lake Washington." Former U.S. Youth Champion and Olympic medalist Carl Buchan is one of Wager's role models. Wager says that Buchan advised him, "If you want to win, it's not enough to just sail fast, you have to be tough."

By winning the event, Wager has received the Robert L. Johnstone III Trophy and qualified to sail in the U.S. Singlehanded Championship for the O'Day Trophy to be sailed in Oklahoma City, OK, on August 6-10, 2003. The competition was fierce throughout the six-day regatta with 143 sailors who were selected by sailing resume from a list of more than 200 applicants. Hosted by the Milwaukee Yacht Club with co-hosts South Shore Yacht Club and the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, the event was sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, West Marine, and Vanguard Sailboats. Gill is an official supplier to the event.

The Stanford Sailing Team begins its competitive season in September and concludes the Fall season in November. They then ramp up to the Collegiate National Championships in the Spring from March until the Championships in June.