By the time collegiate sailing nationals roll around each spring, Antilles School alumni can usually be found scattered across the roster sheets of some of the country’s top programs.
Yet despite representing different schools, many still gather together afterward for the same annual photograph — one that has become a point of pride for a sailing program that continues to send graduates to the sport’s highest levels.
On Tuesday, seniors Halina Diehl and Emma Walters took the next step toward joining them.
The two Antilles sailors announced their commitments to continue their academic and athletic careers at Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively, during a campus press conference Tuesday celebrating not only their accomplishments, but the continued success of a sailing program that has become one of the territory’s most successful pathways to collegiate competition.
“We’re one of the best-kept secrets out there,” Athletic Director Mark Daniel said.
The announcement came at the conclusion of a season that required a younger Antilles team to find its footing after graduating a large senior class a year ago. Head Coach Thomas Barrows said many of the team’s returning sailors were asked to take on larger leadership roles while continuing to compete at a high level, Diehl and Walters among them.
“We had a big group of seniors graduate last year who had been some of the top performers on the team for quite some time,” Barrows said. “It was exciting to see how everyone had to step up, not just in terms of competition, but in terms of leadership and setting the team culture.”
Barrows said the growth was evident throughout the season as younger sailors took on greater responsibility, helping the team remain competitive while building a foundation for the future. At one point during the season, Antilles was positioned to qualify for nationals before ultimately finishing fourth, a result he said reflected both the team’s progress and potential.
For Walters and Diehl, the recruiting process looked a little different, but both described it as a lesson in patience, persistence, and trusting the process.
Walters, who will sail at Penn, said she began seriously navigating the recruiting process during her junior year, while Diehl described months of conversations, research, and waiting before ultimately finding the right fit at Cornell. Both credited coaches, teammates, and family members for helping them navigate the process and prepare for the next level.
Both sailors also pointed to the challenges of this season as important preparation for what comes next. Learning to adapt to changing conditions, competing against top fleets, and taking on leadership roles helped build confidence both on and off the water.
Their commitments add another chapter to a story that has been unfolding at Antilles for more than two decades.
Middle and Upper School Director Kim Ballowe reflected on the origins of the program, which was established in the early 2000s through a partnership between community members and the school. Designed to build on the Virgin Islands’ strong youth sailing culture, the program quickly developed into a bridge to collegiate competition and, for many students, opportunities that extended far beyond St. Thomas.
Over the years, Antilles sailors have captured multiple national championships and gone on to compete for some of the nation’s top collegiate programs. Alumni including Barrows and his younger brother Ian, along with Taylor Canfield, Cy Thompson, and Nikole Barnes, among others, helped establish the program’s reputation, earning collegiate All-America honors, national championships, Olympic appearances, and professional sailing success along the way.
That tradition continues today. Earlier this month, collegiate sailing announced its annual All-America teams, with Antilles alumni Winborne and Katherin Majette, and Caroline Sibilly, earning recognition at the college level. And each spring, as collegiate nationals come to a close, former Antilles teammates representing colleges across the country still find themselves reunited for that familiar photograph — a reminder of the school and community that helped launch their journeys.
Ballowe noted that the program’s success extends well beyond sailing results.
“We’re not just sending sailors to college,” she said. “We’re sending students who are going to do well academically, succeed in college, and build careers afterward.”
