Leo Boucher ’23 placed second at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Men’s Dinghy (ILCA 7) held in Miami, Florida in February.
In the days leading up to the regatta, Boucher — named All-American when sailing for St. Mary's College of Maryland — received a surprise visit from St. Mary’s College President Tuajuanda C. Jordan.
“It was great to have President Jordan come down to see this side of sailing,” Boucher said of the difference in collegiate sailing that Jordan would see on the St. Mary’s River and sailing a regatta for the Olympic trials on the Atlantic Ocean.
The second place capture was not enough to propel Boucher to the Olympics but he remained positive about the experience and was pleased with all the SMCM support he’s had along the way.
Supporting Boucher and helping him train was St. Mary’s College’s Director of Sailing and Varsity Sailing Coach Bill Ward, who coached Boucher his entire SMCM career. Boucher said he was glad to have Ward with him as Ward has experience with coaching at this higher level of competition and was a strong asset for him.
In addition to winning the national men’s singlehanded championships twice (2019 and 2021), Boucher was recognized for his affable personality and competitive spirit with both the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Robert H. Hobbs Sportsmanship Award and the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2023. He picked up MAISA Open Sailor of the Year honors as a senior as well, making him the first-ever sailor in the history of college sailing to garner both MAISA awards in the same year.
