The Donovan Catholic High School Varsity Sailing Team earned an impressive third-place finish at the 2025 New Jersey Interscholastic Sailing Association (NJISA) Fall Fleet Championship, hosted this past weekend at the Toms River Yacht Club. The regatta featured 12 of New Jersey’s top high school sailing teams, all competing for qualification to the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA) District Championships later this month.

The event kicked off Saturday under sunny skies and unseasonably warm 80-degree temperatures. A light west wind provided just enough pressure for one early set before fading and forcing an hour-long postponement. When racing resumed, a gentle southeast seabreeze filled in at 5–8 knots, allowing six additional races to be completed before the day concluded.

Sunday brought even lighter and more unpredictable winds, keeping sailors ashore for much of the morning. By late morning, a weak seabreeze developed, permitting only two more races before conditions once again deteriorated and racing was called for the day.

Christian Brothers Academy led wire-to-wire to capture the overall title, followed by Southern Regional High School in second place. Donovan Catholic secured a solid third-place finish, rounding out the top three and earning a coveted spot at the MASSA Fall District Championship to be held later this month at Toms River Yacht Club.

Donovan’s success was led by standout performances across both divisions.

In A Division, Liam Marcell ’26, Julianna Brooksbank ’28, and Grace Torpey ’26 placed 5th overall.

In B Division, Cameron Hart ’27, Henry Hull ’29, Anna Hnatt ’28, Annabelle Arcuri ’27, and Julianna Brooksbank ’28 sailed consistently to secure a top-three finish.

Head Coach Brian Hull praised the team’s effort and composure throughout the challenging conditions, noting, “Our sailors showed tremendous teamwork and focus all weekend. Their ability to adapt to the changing conditions and stay competitive against some of the strongest programs in the state speaks volumes about their dedication.”

The Donovan Catholic Griffins now look ahead to the MASSA District Championship, where they will compete against the region’s best for a chance to advance to the Atlantic Coast Championship at St. Mary's College.