The San Domenico women’s varsity swimming team is celebrating a great season, marking another milestone in the program’s history. These gifted young athletes have driven their team towards success, showing a real example of skill, commitment and teamwork. 

Under the guidance of Julie Anderson, an Olympic Trials Qualifier, and now head coach for San Domenico’s swim team, the young team embarked on a journey that confirmed their spot as one of the best teams in the league. The team qualified for the BCL (Bay Counties League) championship, and ended up finishing third overall. On top of this, they also qualified for the NCS playoffs for the second straight time.

“We had a handful of young swimmers this season who were not afraid to swim the less popular or more difficult events in each meet,” Anderson said. She also added that the team’s attitude to step up and become leaders even when they were out of their comfort zone, was extremely important for the team’s success. 

From the very beginning of the season, it was evident that this group of swimmers had an incredible drive to excel in the water. Their hard work and determination turned into outstanding performances throughout the season.

Individuals from the team also had a lot of achievements, which elevated their overall standing. 

Veronika Elias is one illustration. As a freshman and a rising star in the SD swimming community, she was elected BCL All-League first team in the 200-meter medley relay, BCL All-League second team in the 400-meter free relay and team’s MVP. These  individual triumphs served as testament to the relentless dedication of each team member. 

“We were a really bonded team, kind of like a family. We were always cheering each other on and that just made it really special for me,” Elias said. “The motivation I had from my teammates and coaches was the key factor to make it special.”

The team’s unity and unwavering support for one another created an environment conducive to success. Luckily, we will still have the pleasure of seeing this team shine in the pools around the area next year. The team does not have any seniors, which makes their success even more impressive. Mark Churchill, San Domenico athletic director, seemed really excited about the future of this young team. 

“I think it’s the start of a big wave,” Churchill said. “The future is bright for them because they don’t graduate anyone. They have all the swimmers coming back next year, this will bring more experience and growth.