ST. MARY’S CITY — In his first college season, Owen Fretwell has earned a place against the best singlehanded sailors in the country.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland first-year skipper from San Diego was named to the 2026 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Open Singlehanded National Championship, set for Nov. 7-8. Fordham University will host the regatta at the American Yacht Club in New York, SMCM Athletics announced.
Fretwell is one of 12 at-large selections in the 18-sailor field. The ICSA Open National Championship Selection Committee released the field Tuesday, Oct. 20. At-large berths are filled by the selection committee, separate from sailors who qualify automatically.
How he got there
Singlehanded sailing pits one sailor in one boat against the fleet, with no crew to share the work. Fretwell built his case in that format in September and October:
- ILCA South, Sept. 12-13: seventh place
- Carl Van Duyne, the MAISA Open Singlehanded Conference Championship: third place
The third-place finish came at the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s singlehanded championship, the conference event for the region that includes the Seahawks.
He has also posted results in division racing for the Seahawks. Fretwell finished sixth in the B division at the Chesapeake Invitational on Sept. 19-20 and fourth in the A division at the Nevins Trophy on Oct. 17-18.
Fretwell attended Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego.
A program used to the big stage
Fretwell joins a program whose alumni keep winning at the top level after graduation. Two SMCM alumni helped USA 1 win a sailing world title in August, and an alumnus won the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship this month.
Closer to home this fall, the team placed eighth and 11th at its own SMC Open regatta and took second at two regattas at the Naval Academy.
Up next
Fretwell races at the ICSA Open Singlehanded National Championship on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, at the American Yacht Club, hosted by Fordham University.
