Sailing’s Justin Callahan Named NEISA Open Skipper of the Year for Second Straight Year

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Sailing's Justin Callahan was named the 2026 NEISA Open Skipper of the Year, marking the second straight season he has secured the honor. Open teammates Jacob Posner and Mitchell Callahan, meanwhile, collected NEISA Open Rookie-of-the-Year accolades and the NEISA Senior Trophy, respectively.

In addition to taking home three major awards, the Crimson had six athletes named to the All-NEISA Open Team and six sailors land on the All-NEISA Women's Team.

Justin Callahan, who secured the program's third NEISA Open Sailor-of-the-Year Award and became the first to go back-to-back, was an All-NEISA Open Skipper First-Team selection. The senior is the first athlete in program history to be a four-time all-league first-team pick.

Joining Callahan on the open skipper first team was his brother, Mitchell, and 2025 ICSA Open Singlehanded champion Robby Meek. Mitchell Callahan picked up his second All-NEISA First-Team nod and Meek made the leap from the 2025 second team to the '26 first team. In addition to the trio of skippers, Harvard had three crew garner all-league recognition. Posner and Rosella Irfan were first-team honorees, while Christina Chen was a second-team pick.

On the women's side, Zoey Ziskind became a two-time first-team All-NEISA Skipper after earning a first-team accolades a year ago. Kate Danielson completed her sophomore campaign with a second-team placement, which marked her second in as many seasons. Sophia Mongtomery, meanwhile, collected her first All-NEISA award, joining Danielson on the second team.

Chen led a trio of All-NEISA Women's Crew Second-Team selections. Landing on the squad with Chen were JJ Drummond and Amelie Zucker. All three were first-time All-NEISA Women's Crew selections.

The Crimson is coming off an impressive showing at the ICSA Team Race National Championships last week. Harvard won its second consecutive open national title and its third in four years. The Crimson women, meanwhile, came in fourth place, marking their third straight top-5 performance at nationals. It was the first time Harvard registered three straight top-5 efforts at the national women's team race regatta.

Harvard is now preparing for the ICSA Fleet Race National Championships. The Crimson women earned an at-large selection and will enter as the No. 4 seed when the regatta begins May 15, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The open championship commences May 19, and will feature top-seeded Harvard, which earned NEISA's automatic bid to the event after winning the NEISA Open Fleet Race Championship/Coast Guard Alumni Bowl.