Tiffany PlattSwimming has become an official team sport for women at Cabrini. After a year of having a swimming club, new coach Mike Kernicky and assistant coach Jen Manning will lead the girls in their first competitive season.
Senior Gina Treml can be accredited for much of the team formation. Treml, originally from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, has been swimming for the last 11 years. She has been trying to get a team together since she was a freshman here at Cabrini and is currently the only senior on the team.
She decided to take action and spoke with Athletic Director Leslie Danehy. Treml took responsibility for recruiting the incoming freshmen to the team and Danehy found Kernicky to be the coach.
Kernicky has been swimming on and off for the past 25 years at institutions such as Widener University and Monsignor Bonner High School. Kernicky coaches the Notre Dame Academy team who practices at the Dixon Center. Kernicky was originally noticed while at the Notre Dame practices and was asked if he could coach a team for Cabrini. He stressed his hopes for the girl’s personal growth and wants them “to work hard and have fun.”
There was a meeting this past week for all who were interested in competing. “It was a very good turnout,” Treml said. According to Treml, two juniors and mostly underclassmen attended the meeting. There were 17 in total at the meeting, which is more than double the seven girls involved in last years swim club.
Junior Christina Callahan attended the meeting as well. Callahan has been swimming for 13 years and has taken a break for the past two. Although she was not involved with the club this past year, she was familiar with its record.
“Last year they came close to beating Kings College and Arcadia University,” Callahan said. “I’d like it if we could beat them this year.” Although she hopes that the team is victorious, she has her own goals of getting back into the sport.
Treml anticipates that her work for the team will be beneficial. “I really want to come back to it after I graduate and I hope it grows as a sport here at Cabrini.” Treml said.
So far there are five meets scheduled for the team: two in November, two in January, and an invitational in Feruary. The team is going to start official practices within the next few weeks that are from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and run Monday through Friday.
Posted on the web by Rob Cain
