Zaleski placed in the top-ten at the NEISA Singlehanded Championship behind only one other freshman (Justine Agaloos).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard coed sailing team secured sixth-place at the Hood Trophy at Tufts, and freshman Marek Zaleski finished tenth at the NEISA Singlehanded Championship hosted by Boston College. The Crimson coed squad also placed 15th at the St. Mary's Fall Interconference regatta to round out a busy weekend slate.

Sophomore Gram Slattery and junior Alice Kenney sailed to a fourth-place finish as skipper and crew, respectively, in the A division to pace Harvard at the Hood Trophy. The duo placed in the single digits in seven of ten races and totaled 65 total points to edge the U.S. Naval Academy, who finished fifth. Slattery and Kenney won the sixth race of the regatta, while placing second twice and third once.

Just three points separated the Crimson's B division boat, skippered by senior Jason Michas with junior Alma Lafler serving as crew, from eighth-place Roger Williams. Harvard tallied 105 points and finished 11th. Michas and Lafler notched five single-digit finishes and secured a spot in the top-five three times. Yale led overall by 12 points, but the host-school, Tufts, rallied to win the regatta with 82 points after the Bulldogs placed 10th in the final race of the regatta. Harvard finished with 170 points. 

In only the third regatta of his collegiate career, Zaleski placed in the single digits in ten of 18 races en route to posting 161 points and finishing 10th in the NEISA Men's Singlehanded Championship. Only one freshman placed ahead of him, James Barry of Brown, who sailed to a seventh-place finish and tallied only four points fewer Zaleski. The Crimson newcomer finished second to the eventual champion, Yale senior Cam Cullman, in the 12th race of the regatta. Zaleski placed in the top-five in two of the last three races to secure a spot in the top-ten.

"Marek made a few freshman mistakes, but it was a very solid learning experience for him," assistant sailing coach Bern Noack said. "He sailed well in a good fleet featuring the top singlehanded collegiate sailors in New England."

Junior Luke O'Connor also competed in the regatta, finishing 19th.

The Crimson battled cold temperatures and a variety of shifts in wind at the St. Mary's Fall Interconference regatta. Harvard posted 428 points, 21 ahead of New York Maritime, who finished 16th. Sophomore Michael Drumm skippered the B division boat, with junior co-captains Benjamin Lamont and Isabel Ruane sailing as crew. The boat notched single-digit finishes on seven occasions, including placing fourth three times.

Sophomore Brian Drumm and freshman Jacob Bradt served as skipper and crew, respectively, on the A division boat that placed 16th. The duo finished strong, placing in the top-ten in five of their last seven races. Roger Williams won the regatta with 213 points.

Harvard next competes in the NEISA Women's Singlehanded Championship at Connecticut College and the Danmark Trophy, a coed regatta, Sept. 29-30.