As Brooke Schneider strolled into Syracuse University’s Involvement Fair in fall 2016, she noticed a looming sailing boat followed by a cry for her attention. One of the members of the team recognized her shirt spelling out “Erie” in nautical flags. Schneider’s hometown, Erie, Pennsylvania is one of America’s most iconic sailing towns.

The sailing team member immediately told Schneider that he had coached her little brother, Robbie. After intense persuasion and a threat to call Schneider’s father, she couldn’t say no.

Coming from a sailing rich culture, Schneider was a passenger on multiple boat trips with her family. Now, as a junior at SU, Schneider is the Commodore of Communications for the SU sailing club. In her first year in the position she’s revamped the program’s communications department and further fostered the family atmosphere, she said.

“I want to see this team keep growing because I know how sailing affected me,” Schneider said “And I want to give that same effect to other people.”

Schneider’s first love was figure skating. She quickly developed into a talented skater, even to the point where she considered trying out for Disney on Ice. Often leaving school early, Schneider drove nearly two hours to Buffalo for skating.

But in her sophomore year of high school, Schneider suffered a devastating back injury and was advised to take a hiatus from the sport.

“I really went off the deep end,” Schneider reflected on her injury. “It really took a toll on my mental health.”

Talia Trackim | Senior Design Editor

Schneider saw her injury as an opportunity to try new things — she joined student council and starred as Rizzo in her high school’s production of Grease. Sailing didn’t come back into Schneider’s focus until the summer going into her senior year. Over the summer, Schneider and her father competed in a five-day regatta around Lake Erie, reaching nearly every port.

“That was the moment I realized I loved sailing,” Schneider said. “I had the competitive aspect of my life back.”

The following fall, Schneider joined the sailing club at SU. Schneider recalled driving 22 hours during spring break of her freshman year to Clearwater, Florida for casual sailing and a chance to bond with her team.

“When you’re in close quarters with any group of people that long, you’re kind of forced to get to know them.” Schneider said. “Those kind of experiences are what makes this club great.”

Since the sailing club’s inception in 2010, the freshmen attendance and more recently, retention rate, has steadily risen. Schneider, along with many other members of the team, attribute the high number of participants to the family environment and willingness to teach newcomers.

Schneider recalled barely going to practice as a freshman. That spring many first-year sailors didn’t return during the second semester.

Due to Schneider’s efforts as the Commodore of Communications, freshmen are more engaged now. The diversified group of incoming sailors includes juniors, seniors, and even grad students, something the team has never seen before.

Courtesy of the Northeast Intercollegiate Sailing Association

Schneider (right) joined the club as a freshman in 2016.

Schneider revamped the sailing team’s social media presence. By implementing a quarterly newsletter, creating a twenty-four-page sailing guidebook on how to manage aspects of the team, and reaching out to public media outlets, the sailing team projects a strong desire to compete.

Without a coach, and limited support from the university, SU’s student-run sailing team continues to thrive. The team receives a $4,500 stipend from the university each year, Commodore of Management Cole Colby said, and the rest is funded by the students. At other schools like Rhode Island, teams are fully staffed and receive around $40,000 in funds from the university, Colby said.

“We’re a very self-motivated team,” Colby said. “Many teams find (the funding) extremely impressive.”

Although people like Schneider and Colby make up the foundation of the sailing team, many members credit part of their success to the overwhelming alumni help. From helping fix boats to constantly checking in on the team’s ranking, sailing team alumni maintain a strong connection with current sailors.

“This is your team but it’s also your family,” Schneider said. “Joining a team like this where there is so much comradery and support, I can’t speak highly of it enough.”

Published on October 23, 2018 at 11:08 am