Aaron Szambecki Team Race
Who was Aaron?
Aaron Szambecki ODU `96,
Team Captain, ICSA Honorable Mention All-American
Here is a great description of Aaron from a friend of his, Liz Potter SMC `99.
Aaron Szambecki, was a couple years older than me in our junior sailing program on Lake Erie in
Ohio. He wasn't liked by everyone at the yacht club- he could be VERY direct with his words and
many times added in a few choice words.
But, he did break the ground for me and some other junior sailors by attending Old Dominion
and sailing there on the dinghy team. His sailing skills might not have come as naturally as say a
Mark Ivey or Matt Reynolds, but he worked very hard to know the rules and push himself to the
limits. He usually wore a Polo shirt, khakis, and his ODU baseball hat, while driving his
Suburban way too fast, probably listening to Andrew Dice Clay at full volume.
When he came home after his first year at ODU, he helped coach me, made me do roll tacks
until I was dizzy, and most importantly, encouraged me to attend a school outside of Ohio with
a larger sailing program. I learned from Aaron that it was ok to push myself and be a little more
competitive as he seemed to thrive on competition.
Aaron took his own life shortly after finishing at ODU, and the group of sailors that grew up
with him was devastated. Although Aaron will definitely be cheering from above for ODU to
win this weekend's team race, he would also be thrilled to see me cheering for St. Mary's all the
way.
Please cherish your friendships on the team and enjoy your competition, and if a friend is ever
in a dark spot, please lend them an ear. We don't need any more memorial college regattas.
Enjoy the rest of the Spring Season and Sail Fast!
Go Hawks!
Liz (Potter) Barker '99