CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A group of students from Flour Bluff High School are making history as the first high school sailing team in the Coastal Bend region to head to nationals.
The sailing team qualified to compete in the PCISA Girls National Invitation Competition in San Diego, California next weekend with some of the best teams across the country.
Sophomore Breanna Breft had no prior experience in the sport before signing up for the school's first sailing team back in January.
"I was really excited because like Corpus has a really great area for sailing and for us to be the first high school team, but let alone the first team to go to nationals, is really impressive and I'm really excited for it," Kreft said.
Joe Hanko is the team's coach and has experience competing at the national level. He spearheaded the formation of the team, and is proud of what the girls have done.
"So they have to know the rules, strategy, tactics, boat handling -- there's a lot to it, takes a long time to learn it all," Hanko said. "So for them to come this far in seven months is really good."
Hanko said this is just the beginning for his team.
"So for them to be able to get there is an accomplishment all on itself, and it's perfect for them because they're just getting started," Hanko said. "Now they're going to see what the next level looks like and they have years to go back."
Sophomore Caroline Levandowski has grown up sailing and says the team is excited to compete in nationals, and are thankful for their coach.
"I'm proud that you are my coach," Levandowski said addressing Hanko. "I've learned so much from you and I don't think we would be at the level we are now without you and though we may have complained, we love sailing."
Hanko said this is just the beginning for sailing teams in the Coastal Bend. He hopes to expand the sport to other area high schools in the future.
Congratulations to the Flour Bluff HS Girls Sailing Team:
- Breanna Kreft
- Claira Shores
- Jessica Hobbs
- Kendra Reyes-Ortiz
- Caroline Levandowski
- Yasemeen Djilali