For the second consecutive spring season, the Christian Brothers Academy sailing team achieved two major feats.
The Colts won their second state championship in a row and followed that up with a second trip to the national championship in as many years.
Over a wild weather weekend in Toms River, CBA outlasted 13 teams at the state championship regatta. After only two races on Saturday, the title was secured on Sunday, May 18 as the Colts separated from the pack.
The CBA contingent of Cole Buczkowski '27, Matthew Dupree '25, Kyle Lombardino '25 and Donald Johnston '25 won their division. Those four sailors only finished outside the top two in a single race during the series.
Christopher Small '26, Jules Buczkowski '26 and Johnston narrowly missed winning their division, but delivered all top two finishes in the series.
The state championship is the fourth title in program history, which also ties a state record for most victories in the event.
Two weeks after winning the state title, the Colts traveled to Connecticut for the Fleet Race National Championship on May 31. CBA qualified for the country's top event by way of a top four finish at the Mid-Atlantic District Championship a few weeks earlier.
Sailing against the top 20 teams in the nation, the Colts battled the tough competition and tougher conditions over a whopping 40 races in two days. Ultimately, CBA finished 13th overall when it was all said and done.
The trip to the 2025 Fleet Race National Championship followed the team's 2024 berth. It is the first time in program history that CBA Sailing has qualified two years in a row.
Nationals wrapped up another tremendous season for the program. Aside from the state title, CBA also won a third straight Spring League Championship, as well as the BBYRA Spring Invitational. The Colts added an impressive third place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Team Race.
The program received seven all-state honors, which set a new state record for one school in a single year. Small and Cole Buczkowski were named first team skippers, while Jules Buczkowski and Patrick Kennedy '28 were selected as second team skippers. Dupree, Alton DeOliveria '26 and Seth Santos '27 were chosen as first team crews.
Cole Buczkowski was also honored as the New Jersey High School Sailor of the Year for 2024-2025. It is the fifth time that a CBA sailor has won the award and followed Small's 2024 selection.
