Warming up for the Dual Meet on Sept. 18, junior Madison Bertucci dives into the pool at the UNO Aquatic Center.
Splash! The swimmers dive into the clean, blue water, and the smell of chlorine fills the air. Their adrenaline kicking in, they swim faster and faster. They hear the excitement and rumble from the crowd and their teammates cheering them on. This is the moment they have been preparing for since the first week of school.
With this solid yet slippery preparation, Dominican’s Swim Team took fourth place in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Metro Meet Oct. 26-27 at UNO’s Aquatic Center.
Earlier in October, Dominican placed second in the Stand Up to Cancer meet held at UNO to support breast cancer awareness. Hitting the wall first in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke was junior Rileigh Centanni with a time of 1:14.66.
Rileigh shares pool time not only with her teammates but with her twin sister, Reese. This duo has been on the Dominican Swim Team since they were in eighth grade. “I like having my sister on the team,” said Reese. “It motivates me and makes for great competition.”
Freestyle swimmer Morgan Gunnels, junior, slices through the water at the Dual Meet on Sept. 18. Gunnels’ times have qualified her to compete in State on Nov. 17.
Previously in September competitions, Dominican dominated the pool at another meet where the team faced Archbishop Chapelle High School and Ursuline Academy. Dominican took first place in all events but one. Freshman Emma Sullivan took first in the Girls 50 Yard Freestyle. Senior Gabrielle Duhe finished first in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle. In the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle, three girls made the top three under the metro qualifying time of 6:27.00: freshman Catherine Kernion, eighth grader Allyson Johnson and freshman Olivia Cassreino.
“It’s really cool when I finish with my teammates,” said Kernion, “because even though I swim individually, I love my team and want everyone to do well!”
September continued to be successful for Dominican because many team members have already qualified to reach for the wall at the state meet in November. Those who have already qualified for state include seniors Emma MacMahon, Hannah Morris, Gabrielle Duhe; juniors Morgan Gunnels, Reese Centanni, Rileigh Centanni; and freshmen Kernionualifi Cassreino and Sullivan.
Those who have qualified to compete in the state meet have also qualified to swim for DHS in the Metro Meet on Saturday, October 27. They will race along with their teammates who have also qualified for metro: eighth graders Johnson and Brooke DiMaggio; and sophomore Audrey Wild.
“Qualifying is what the season is all about,” said swim moderator Ms. Erin Baker. “We swim with the intent of qualifying.”
Duhe, who shares the role of captain along with Morris and McMahon, is proud to be a part of the Dominican Swim Team. “They keep me happy,” said Duhe. “At practice and at the meets, being with the team motivates me and makes me a better swimmer.”
DHS swimmers will compete in the State Meet on Nov. 17 in Sulfur, LA.
- Jennifer Yrle
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