Assad Welcomes Seven Members of Class of 2026 to Sailing Program

Photo by: Gil Talbot

Assad Welcomes Seven Members of Class of 2026 to Sailing Program

8/18/2022 9:59:00 AM | Sailing - Open & Women's

Head Coach Justin Assad announces the Big Green’s incoming freshman class.

By: Francis Forte

HANOVER, N.H. — Head Coach of Sailing Justin Assad and his staff have announced the seven incoming members of the Class of 2026 set to join the Big Green for the 2022-23 season.

"We welcome seven sailing student-athletes to our team next week, and we are excited to see what they will do in a green pinny!" Assad said. "The highly accomplished student-athletes have a diverse set of racing backgrounds and will bring expertise in crewing and skippering to our team."

The Class of 2026, listed alphabetically, is as follows:

Casey Bertocchi
Wilmette, Ill. | New Trier High School
Before Dartmouth: Lettered three times in sailing at New Trier High School… Served as a captain during her senior season… Led New Trier High School to a first-place finish at the 2021 Midwest Interscholastic Sailing Association (MISSA) Girls Qualifier in the B division… Helped New Trier finish 10th in a field of 21 teams at the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association (PCISA) Girls Championships in 2021. Named a National Merit Commended Scholar in 2021-22.
Personal: Daughter of Joel and Julie Bertocchi… Has one sister… Father competed for Wisconsin from 1975-1979 as a coxswain.

Bella Casaretto
Fort Lauderdale, Fl. | Pine Crest School
Before Dartmouth: Lettered four times at Pine Crest School in sailing… Served as a captain of Pine Crest's sailing program for head coach Arthur Blodgett… Named a finalist for the 2019 Yachtswoman of the Year award by US Sailing, alongside Berta Puig… Gold medalist at 2019 Youth World Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
Personal: Daughter of Alberto and Wanda Casaretto… Has one sister, Ariel, who sailed for the University of Miami… Plans to study and pursue a career in engineering.

Caleb Cogan
New York, N.Y. | Avenues The World School
Before Dartmouth: Attended the New York campus of Avenues The World School… Played soccer and captained his team during his freshman year… Founder and president of BuildOn, a student organization that works to empower underserved communities through education.
Personal: Son of Andrew Cogan and Lori Finkel… Has one brother and one sister… Brother, Jedidiah, was a polo student-athlete at Cornell from 2017-21… Plans to study government and pursue a career in law and consulting.

Maddie Hughes
Miami, Fl. | Gulliver Preparatory School
Before Dartmouth: Two-sport athlete in sailing and lacrosse at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida… Lettered four times in sailing and three times in lacrosse… Served as captain of her sailing team during her junior and senior seasons, served as captain of the lacrosse team for her senior campaign… Finished fourth out of 96 teams at the 2021 Midwinter Championship alongside her brother, Danny… Earned Second Team All-Dade County honors in lacrosse following her senior season.
Personal: Daughter of Dan and Beth Hughes… Has one brother and one sister… Sister, Sarah Hughes Cafaro, graduated from the Tuck School of Business in 2013… Brother, Danny, is on the Georgetown sailing team… Mother played lacrosse and field hockey for Loyola College of Baltimore.

Madeline Koelbel
Duxbury, Mass. | Duxbury High School
Before Dartmouth: Two-sport athlete in sailing and swimming at Duxbury High School… Lettered four times in both sailing and swimming… Led Duxbury to the Massachusetts Bay League (MBL) Team Race Tournament championship in 2022 as a skipper… Helped Duxbury to back-to-back undefeated seasons in swimming in 2019-20 and 2020-21… Earned the Duxbury High School 7 Letter Award following her senior year... Named a Patriot League Scholar Athlete following her senior year in swimming.
Personal: Daughter of Stephen Koelbel and Doris Kim… Has an identical twin sister… Plans to study earth sciences.

Phoebe Lee
Cranston, R.I. | Lincoln School
Before Dartmouth: Two-sport athlete at Lincoln School in sailing and squash… Served as a captain of her sailing team for both her junior and senior seasons… Placed 39th out of a field of 158 teams at the 2019 Club 420 National Championship alongside brother, Henry… Finished 30th in a field of 90 teams at the 2019 Club 420 North American Championship… Was a member of the first all-female youth team to compete in the 116-year-old Newport Bermuda Race.
Personal: Daughter of Chris and Sarah Lee… Has one brother… Plans to study economics and pursue a career in business.

Sudi Zhao
Lexington, Mass. | Lexington High School
Before Dartmouth: Played soccer for three seasons at Lexington High School… Sailed through Courageous Sailing's youth program and spent four years teaching for the program... Earned the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award of Academic Excellence by having one of the top three GPAs in her class… Earned Honor Roll status all throughout high school.
Personal: Daughter of Kai Zhao and Mingzhu Liu… Has one brother… Plays the violin… Plans to pursue a career in medicine.