Richmond Hill sailor Devon Rohde improved leaps and bounds this summer to become an up and coming contender on the national level. Rohde held her own during two national regattas in July and concluded the month with a first place finish in the SAYRA Youth Challenge event in North Carolina, followed by a third place finish in the overall SAYRA regatta.

For this, Rohde has been named July Bryan County Athlete of the Month. Rohde received her certificate during an award banquet in her honor Aug. 12 at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s.

Rohde grew up on the water and has been sailing since the tender age of 8. She also has some support on the homefront.Her dad has sailed all his life, and her mom has competed since college and eventually became a pioneer in creating the RHHS sailing program. It also doesn’t hurt that her big sister Krysta Rohde, currently a sailor for the Coast Guard Academy, is a national champion and has even been featured in Sports Illustrated. Her younger sister Dana is now sailing as well, and Devon and Dana saw some success this summer when they teamed up for the first time.

By the time Rohde, now a junior at RHHS, started competing as a high school freshman, signs of greatness were already shining through. She began her freshman year in the B division – the sailing equivalent of junior varsity. Before that season was complete, she had advanced to A.

"This coincided with the year Krysta went off to college," said mom and RHHS sailing coach Carrie Rohde. "In one year’s time, she was a whole different sailor. She has gradually improved and really impressed everybody by the end of the summer. She has developed into a fantastic competitor and the pieces of the puzzle are really coming together for her as far as competing nationally."

Devon also delved into the world of coaching for the first time this summer. She spent the entire month of June training 7 and 8-year-old kids the basics of sailing.

Devon said she likes summer regattas, but loves high school sailing competition. Although it is anticipated to be a rebuilding year for the team, she said she is very excited about the coming season and looks to do well. The high school season starts next month.

Devon, an honor student, also aims to continue sailing on the collegiate level.

"I’ll definitely always be around sailing," she said, noting that she’d even like to get into a career that somehow involves the sport.

To see a photographic history of all the past Bryan County Athlete of the Month award winners, click here http://community.bryancountynews.net/gallery/detail/67/