ITHACA, N.Y. -- As part of the America Trophy racing weekend, the Mid-Atlantic Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) announced that Christopher Newport University senior skipper
Austin Powers was named the 2017 Robert Purrington Award winner. Powers is the first CNU sailor to collect the exclusive honor, which was established in 2001 to recognize a graduating senior from the conference who has made outstanding contributions to college sailing through his efforts, not only by competing, but in the promotion of the sport.
Powers is only the fourth sailor from a Division III school, and the first since Dave Evans from Stevens in 2000-01 to earn the recognition. He also joins Erik Larsen (NY Maritime) and Stan Hyatt (St. Mary's (Md.) as award winners from the Division III level.
The award's description goes on to recognize the sailor's sportsmanship among teams, maintaining quality of competition, and contributing to the overall performance of MAISA. The recipient is not necessarily the best sailor in MAISA, but embodies the selfless spirit of true competition and commitment to excellence in support of college sailing in the MAISA district.
"The development of the CNU sailing team would not have happened without senior A Division helmsman
Austin Powers," said head coach
Maxwell Plarr. "Powers had quite the career at CNU, named co-captain since 2015, qualifying the team for three War Memorials and four America Trophies."
Powers was an exceptional singlehanded sailor as well, earning a fifth place finish at the 2016 Van Duyne Trophy, the MAISA Singlehanded Conference Championship. He was named the 2016 and 2017 team MVP, and off the water, served as the undergraduate president of MAISA starting in December of 2015. Powers became the first Captain to hold the esteemed post.
The Purrington Award was established in March 2001 in honor of LT Robert H. Purrington, Commodore of the Princeton University Yacht Club during his senior year and leader of the team in 1965-66. After graduation, he was commissioned and received his wings as a Navy Pilor, flying 121 combat missions before dying of leukemia in 1971.
As the Purrington Award winner, Austin will be the MAISA nominee for the James Rousmaniere Award for Student Leadership at the ICSA Level.
| YEAR |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
| 2016-17 |
Austin Powers |
Christopher Newport University |
| 2015-16 |
Samuel Patterson |
University of Virginia |
| 2014-15 |
Jack Swikart |
University of Pennsylvania |
| 2013-14 |
Chris Stessing |
University of Virginia |
| 2012-13 |
Skye Kussmann |
George Washington |
| 2011-12 |
Philip Alley |
Cornell |
| 2010-11 |
Michael Campbell |
Georgetown |
| 2009-10 |
Seth Whitmore |
Queen's |
| 2008-09 |
Laura Graham |
Cornell |
| 2007-08 |
Scott Grandt |
Cornell |
| 2006-07 |
Charles Richter |
Cornell |
| 2005-06 |
No Award |
|
| 2004-05 |
Isaac Bauer |
Columbia |
| 2003-04 |
Peter Kane |
Cornell |
| 2002-03 |
Justin Assad |
Columbia |
| 2001-02 |
Heather Noel |
Penn State |
| 2001-02 |
Andrew Davis |
Cornell |
| 2000-01 |
Dave Evans |
Stevens |
| 1999-00 |
Tom Miller |
Cornell |
| 1999-00 |
Elizabeth Carroll |
Columbia |
| 1998-99 |
Erik Larsen |
NY Maritime |
| 1997-98 |
Stan Hyatt |
St. Mary's |
