The women’s swim and dive team is off to a historic start this season, with six swimmers qualifying for nationals after standout performances at the Central Connecticut Open Water Festivals on Sept 21. The achievement marks a new milestone for the program and sets the tone for what could be a breakthrough year.
The Pioneers, just three weeks into their season, traveled to Marlborough, Conn. for the early test and returned with six national qualifiers.
Source: Instagram, @sacredheartswimdive
Head coach John Spadafina credited the group’s offseason dedication as the key to their success.
“We’re definitely happy with how they competed on that Sunday, especially since we’re only really three and a half weeks into our season,” said Spadafina. “It’s a testament to the training they did over the summer and the preparation they brought into this year. They earned it.”
Open water swimming is a relatively new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned discipline, but Sacred Heart has quickly embraced the challenge.
Spadafina explained that the mid-season championship, held in Florida this December, offers a unique opportunity for his swimmers to compete on a national stage while breaking up the grind of the season.
For junior distance swimmer Maeve English, the open water event was both a mental and physical test.
“Open water swimming is very different, there are no walls, clocks or coaches, so you don’t have any reference about your pace while swimming,” said English. “I was simply trying to stay up in the lead pack and felt strong during the race, but I really had no idea of my time until I started running for the finish line.”
For junior freestyle specialist Sophia Velleco, qualifying for nationals was as much about building confidence as it was about racing.
“Qualifying for nationals is an incredible experience,” said Velleco. “It really boosts my confidence, showing me that I’m capable of achieving things outside my usual routine or training. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to compete alongside some of the top schools in the nation.”
Velleco admitted she was anxious heading into the race but credited her mindset for carrying her through.
“I had to remind myself to treat it like any other race,” said Velleco. “I focused on my breathing and tried to approach it like I would in a regular pool.”
Both English and Velleco pointed to the Red & White Pentathlon as a key measuring stick for the team’s progress. The annual intrasquad meet forces swimmers to compete across multiple events, providing an early test of versatility and endurance.
“The Pentathlon is always a challenge since we swim events we may not normally compete in, but it gets everyone back into a racing mindset,” said English.
Velleco added that her times in the meet were faster than last year, which gave her confidence heading into both nationals and the conference season.
With December’s open water nationals circled on the calendar, the Pioneers will continue to focus on their dual meet schedule and preparing for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships in February. For the six national qualifiers, balancing individual goals with the team’s ambitions will be the priority.
“I’ve been trying to use my excitement to focus on training hard every day,” said English. “It’s all part of the process of getting ready for MAACs.”
Spadafina believes this group’s success speaks volumes about the growth of the program.
“It’s something they wanted to do, and we truly support it,” said Spadafina. “They earned it, and they did a great job at it.”
At the Fairfield Invite for diving on Oct. 3, the duo of freshman Ryleigh Mahoney and sophomore Kara Leahy pulled through with a 1-2 finish on both the one meter and three meters boards.
At their dual meet on Oct 4. Sacred Heart won by a score of 178.5 to 121.5 against Stony Brook University at the McCann Natatorium in Milford, Conn.
Sacred Heart will return to the pool on Oct. 17-18 for their next tri-meet against Iona University and Wagner College, carrying both momentum and motivation as they set their sights on December’s national stage.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
