Women’s swimming triumphs at tri-meet

Brenda K. Colwell

The Cabrini College swim team is. Currently riding a three-game win streak, the girls recently defeated Kings College, College of Notre Dame and Lebanon Valley.

Since September, the team has been practicing five days a week in order to be completely prepared for each opponent. The swim team has mandatory practices held at 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and they need to attend three other practices throughout the week, either held at morning or night.

Head coach Michael Kernicky said, “We’d like the team to come to both practices, but because of classes, we understand if they can only make one practice a day.”

As the season continues to unfold, the team’s hard work and determination is starting to pay off. After losing the first meet of the season, the team has bounced back with three straight wins and is looking forward to future meets against Misercordia and Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham.

“The Team is looking tremendous, best team ever, best attitude. Compared to last year, it’s a giant leap ahead.” Kernicky said.

The team is well balanced with many freshmen racing exceptional, and they are accompanied by veteran leadership in tri-captains Meghan O’Leary, Kristen Longa and Deborah Williams.

Kernicky said there are a lot of leaders on this team; the tri-captains do an excellent job and freshmen Andrea Carabello, Gina Nicotera, Shawnee Gehman and Jenna Dougherty are becoming stars.

On Nov. 4, the team faced the College of Notre Dame and Kings College. Carabello, Nicotera, Gehman and Dougherty all broke records in their individual races.

On Dec. 2 the team faces a double dual meet with Bryn Mawr College and Fairleigh Dickinson University at FDU. They will wrap up the first part of the season on Dec. 3 at Ocean County College at 1 p.m.

The season will continue throughout winter break with numerous practices and a trip planned to train in Florida. The season will wrap up on Feb. 11 at the Cabrini Invitational. If they continue to win, they will qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships.

“Were hoping to win the remainder of the season and qualify for the ECAC championships in Pittsburgh.” Kernicky said.