Ned Mitchell and Kelsey Shakin were among a group who all failed to make the cut for Tabor Academy’s varsity sailing team freshmen year. But instead of become discouraged, they became driven.

Now, as seniors, that same group makes up the team’s experienced core.

“We really became close after that year,” said Shakin, of Boston.

“We have such a great group of senior guys and girls, also juniors too,” said Mitchell, an Edgartown native.

With Mitchell, Shakin and the other seniors at the helm, the team hopes to make a deep run at the Interscholastic Sailing Association National (ISSA) tournament.

Last year, the team didn’t sail well enough to compete in the New England Sailing Tournament, but did qualify for the ISSA National Invitational Tournament.

The team’s record is currently 7-1. Coach Rob Hurd said at this point in the season he wants the sailors focused on boat handling.

“[Hurd] stressed that you can’t race at high level if you can’t get the boat where you need it to be,” Mitchell said.

For the first three years on the team, Mitchell was a skipper, driving the boat while the crew (in this case a single sailor) adjusts the headsail.

However, this year he is competing in the crew position.

Hurd said he made Mitchell crew so younger skippers could develop their talents. Plus, it made the team stronger.

“We’re gelling much better as a team,” Mitchell said. “Everyone is having a good time and we’re winning.”

Shakin, who sails as a skipper with Mitchell, said though she’s been sailing since a young age it wasn’t something she enjoyed immediately.

“I hated it at first and was really bad until seventh grade, and then something clicked and I started to do well,” she said.

After graduation Shakin will compete at Rogers Williams University in Rhode Island where she was recently accepted. The school’s sailing program routinely ranks in the top 20 in the nation.

Shakin said she hopes the team’s seniors end their sailing careers at Tabor on a high note.

“We’ve been pretty good,” she said. “We’re definitely a very fast team.”

The team’s next match is April 17 against Bishop Stang High School at home.