Cecelia FranciscoThe women’s swim team season has come to an end as it finished with a 3-3 record. Although this was the first official season that Cabrini had a swim team, all the members involved, swimmers and coaching staff, are satisfied with the outcome.
Michael Kernicky, the head coach, said this year’s team “Is learning how to compete,” and believes that with the four to five new swimmers expected for next season, the team will improve substantially.
The team was content with its progress as well. “It was a really good season, we had a lot of fun,” freshman Jori Edwards said. Kristen Longa, a freshman elementary education major, agreed and said that not only did the women do well during competition, but they also bonded as a result of the sport. “We’re not only teammates; some of the girls are my best friends here at Cabrini,” Longa said.
Although the team will be gaining some new swimmers, it will also be losing one very important teammate, senior Gina Treml. Treml played a large role in the formation of the team at Cabrini. After taking part in the swim club the year before, Treml spoke to Athletic Director Leslie Danehy and together they established a competitive team.
Edwards is grateful for Treml’s advocacy. “Gina made it a lot of fun and we’re really glad that she started the team,” Edwards said. Treml’s seven other teammates will miss her companionship, but she doesn’t plan on straying too far from them. Treml has aspirations of coaching and plans on coming back to support the team.
The team credits much of its success to Kernicky because of his encouragement and enthusiasm. Freshman busness major Courtney Storey recalls Kernicky’s motto, ‘when you’re at school think about school, when you’re at swimming think about swimming, and when you’re with your boyfriend think about swimming; because where else would you rather be than right here, right now at swim practice.’
In addition to Kernicky, Joe Webb, Cabrini’s sports psychologist, backed the swimmers. “He really devoted a lot of his time to the team, ” Longa said. Webber regularly attended swim meets and mentally prepared the team for competitions.
This season concluded over a three-day championship meet at Grove City College. Cabrini’s team was honored to be invited to join the 10 other teams compete. “It was very intimating but we did well considering we are a new team,” Edwards said.
Cabrini’s team traveled the farthest to be a part of the championship. The teammates were given a chance to bond closer over a five-hour bus trip.
Cabrini’s team returned home with eighth place in the 200 freestyle relay, and seventh place 400-medley relay. Longa also placed amongst the finalist for the 1,000-yard freestyle event and received a ribbon. Next year the team plans to go back to Grove City with more swimmers and high expectations.
Posted to the web by: Cecelia Francisco
