WASZP High School & College Qualifiers Results Regions 1 & 2

WASZP HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE QUALIFIERS LAUNCH THE 2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PATHWAY

Regions 1 and 2 Open the First Chapter of a New Era

The inaugural WASZP High School and College Regional Qualifiers officially launched on January 31 and February 1, marking the opening chapter of a new national pathway for scholastic and collegiate Dinghy Foiling in North America. With qualification spots for the WASZP High School and College National Championships on the line, sailors from across the country took to the water in Regions 1 and 2 to represent their schools and begin the race toward the National Final this May.

Contested on opposite coasts, the opening weekend delivered exactly what the series was designed to create. Close racing, contrasting conditions, emerging school based programs, and a clear progression toward a true National Championship all came together to set a strong foundation for the future of High School and College foiling.

 

Region 1 West Coast

Coronado Yacht Club | San Diego, California

Region 1 opened at Coronado Yacht Club under light and technical conditions that rewarded discipline, precision, and consistency. The West Coast qualifier featured a high school driven fleet representing a range of schools and sailing communities from Hawaii to Southern California, with the racing remaining tightly compressed throughout the series.

Sailors from Hawaii entered the event representing two of the state’s strongest academic and sailing institutions. Lucas Doran of Le Jardin Academy in Kailua and Charlie Parsons, a 12th grade student at Punahou School in Honolulu, set the pace early and demonstrated the depth of Hawaii’s emerging scholastic foiling pipeline.

Southern California was equally well represented. Braden Ozarski, an 11th grade student at Point Loma High School in San Diego, delivered a consistent and composed performance throughout the weekend. He was joined by fellow Point Loma High School sailor Kevin Cason, also in 11th grade, adding further strength to the San Diego contingent. Younger sailors made their presence felt as well, including Théo Goodman, a 9th grade student at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, and Julian Yao, a 9th grade student at Santa Monica High School, both gaining valuable experience in a high level qualifying environment.

After a weekend of disciplined racing, Lucas Doran and Charlie Parsons secured first and second place respectively, earning their qualification for the National Championships. Braden Ozarski rounded out the podium in third, claiming the final qualifying position from Region 1 and advancing Point Loma High School to the National Final.

All three sailors now move on to represent their schools at the WASZP High School and College National Championships, set for May at Toms River Yacht Club in New Jersey.

Local coach Tom Rall highlighted what stood out most over the weekend.
“What impressed me was how these sailors represented their schools. The racing was tight, but the sailors supported each other, shared feedback, and pushed the level together. That culture is something special.”

 

Region 2 Southeast

Jensen Beach, Florida | WASZP Winter Base

While Region 1 tested finesse, Region 2 delivered a very different challenge. A strong cold front swept through Jensen Beach, bringing near freezing temperatures and sustained breeze that demanded resilience, toughness, and adaptability alongside speed.

Region 2 also showcased the full intent of the pathway, with a mixed fleet of high school and college sailors competing side by side for National Championship qualification. The college fleet was anchored by sailors representing the College of Charleston in South Carolina, including Bryce Huntoon, Pierce Olsen, Flynn Olsen, and Maddie Andersen. Their presence underscored the growing role of collegiate sailing programs in the WASZP pathway and reinforced the connection between high school development and college competition.

Bryce Huntoon delivered a commanding performance throughout the series, securing first place and the top qualifying position for the National Championships. Pierce Olsen followed closely, earning his qualification as well and ensuring strong College of Charleston representation at the Final.

Additional college representation came from Ghislaine Van Empel of the University of Florida, who sailed a composed and consistent series to earn her spot at the National Championships. Her qualification marks another milestone for the program as school based participation continues to expand across new regions and institutions. Harry Prager, representing the University of Life, added further depth to the collegiate fleet and contributed to a competitive and diverse Southeast qualifier.

RaceSense technology played a central role throughout the event, supporting structured debriefs and providing clear performance data across the fleet. Its use reinforced the Class’s commitment to objective evaluation and performance driven development within High School and College competition.

Rick Wood, host at the Jensen Beach Sailing Center and home of the WASZP Winter Base, reflected on the weekend.

“These sailors showed real toughness. The conditions were demanding, but they represented their schools well and supported each other throughout the event. That made the competition stronger for everyone.”

 

The First Qualifiers to the National Championships

With Regions 1 and 2 complete, the first qualifiers to the WASZP High School and College National Championships are now confirmed.

High School Qualifiers
Lucas Doran, Le Jardin Academy, Kailua, Hawaii
Charlie Parsons, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii
Braden Ozarski, Point Loma High School, San Diego, California

College Qualifiers
Bryce Huntoon, College of Charleston, South Carolina
Pierce Olsen, College of Charleston, South Carolina
Ghislaine Van Empel, University of Florida

 

Momentum Builds Toward the National Stage

The successful launch of Regions 1 and 2 marks an exciting beginning for the WASZP High School and College National Championship pathway. As the series continues, Regions 3 and 4 will complete their qualifiers, adding new schools, new sailors, and new stories to an increasingly competitive national field.

All roads ultimately lead to late May at Toms River Yacht Club in New Jersey, where the inaugural WASZP High School and College National Championships will bring the country’s top scholastic and collegiate foiling sailors together to compete for the first national titles in the series.

The pathway is now active. The competition is real. And with schools from across the country already represented, WASZP High School and College foiling has taken a decisive step onto the national stage.

Learn more and keep up to date at https://foilfast.com/blogs/news-1