14 athletes named to USA Youth Worlds team, will compete in Lake Garda

2024 Youth Worlds Team announced © US Sailing Team

US Sailing has named the 14 US Youth Team athletes who will represent USA at the 2024 Youth Sailing World Championships. The 53rd edition of the premier event in international youth sailing will take place July 13-20 in Lake Garda, Italy and is open to athletes under age 19."

"I can't imagine a more iconic European venue for this year's event," remarked Phil Muller, US Sailing Youth Performance Manager and Head Coach. "The Youth World Championships is the pinnacle regatta on our annual calendar. To me, it is the ultimate display of sailing skill, national pride and international competition.

US Youth Team athletes were selected based on the results of a single qualification regatta for each class: the Nacra 15 Midwinter's East Championship hosted by Lauderdale Yacht Club (FL), iQFOiL Ring of Fire Championship hosted by Kaneohe Yacht Club (HI), and the ILCA, 29er, i420 Midwinters West Championship hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (CA). You can find more information on how they were selected here.

2024 US Youth Team:

• Male Windsurfer – iQFOiL Youth
  • Makani Andrews (Kaneohe, HI)*
• Female Windsurfer – iQFOiL Youth
  • Sage Andrews (Kaneohe, HI)*
• Male One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
  • Jake Homberger (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
• Female One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
  • Isabella Mendoza Cabezas (Miami, FL)
• Male/Mixed Skiff – 29er
  • Fynn Olsen & Pierce Olsen (Miami Beach, FL)
• Female Skiff – 29er
  • Annie Sitzmann & Molly Bonham (Severna Park, MD / Annapolis, MD)
• Male/Mixed Two Person Dinghy – i420
  • Freddie Parkin* & Estella Morris (Riverside, CT / Larchmont, NY)
• Female Two Person Dinghy – i420
  • Ava McAliley & Michelle Kaneti (Miami, FL / Mamaroneck, NY)
• Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 15
  • Dylan Tomko & Casey Small (Canyon Lake, TX / Houston, TX)

2024 Youth Worlds Regatta Coaches: Phil Muller (iQFOiL, Team Leader), Sophia Reineke (ILCA 6), Paris Henken (29er), Steve Keen (i420), Rosie Chapman (Nacra 15).

"The Youth Worlds is a life-changing and defining event for every athlete who earns their spot on Team USA," said Muller. "Americans are bold competitors and this year's team is made of athletes who have proven the caliber of their skill at home and abroad. We look forward to coming together as a team and representing our country."

With the Youth Worlds just a few months away, team members will participate in training blocks alongside training partners who earned an invitation based on their results at qualifying regattas. The US Youth Championship on June 22-25 in Bristol, RI will be a final opportunity for team members to hone their skills prior to the Worlds.

John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Competition Manager, added "we were thrilled to see the tight competition at each of the qualifier regattas for this year's US Youth Team. Across the country, the skill level is high and athletes are pushing each other to improve. To all youth sailors striving to be their best, we have one message: keep going, and we are here to support you. We are excited to see you at US Sailing events this year!"