By Robyn Henderson
As the saying goes, “It is the only sport in which you get yelled at for breathing.” The St. Bernard Swim Club Bluefins recently concluded their 4th year-round season.
The Bluefins Year Round team is an exceptional group of kids who begin practicing in September and conclude the season with State Championship in July. The swimmers range in age from five to 17 years old. The Bluefins have traveled from Lafayette to Pensacola, Florida competing against dozens of teams.
The team is coached by the dynamic trio of coaches Adam Battaglia, Shawn O’Neil, and David Cox.
O’Neil, along with his wife Wendy, started the team in 2014. “We started the Bluefins to give the youth of St. Bernard an outlet to compete in swimming, something that was lacking prior to 2014,” O’Neil stated.
The team has grown tremendously over the years and has brought together a group of young people who share the same passion. Mehling Shipley has been swimming with the Bluefins for three years. “My favorite thing about swimming is learning something new and meeting new people who like to swim,” Shipley said. Shipley is currently ranked 20th in the state in Girls 11-12 100-meter Butterfly.
Other swimmers have their own reason for putting on the orange swim cap. Second-year swimmer Connor McAllister sums up his experience as an internal feat. “All the hard work is worth it when I look up to see I beat my own time,” McAllister says.
Twelve swimmers qualified for the Louisiana Long Course State Championship that was held at the University of New Orleans this July. Swimmers from all over the state converge to compete in this elite meet.
The Bluefins also sent their first relay team to state this summer. Kamry DuRapau, Kennadie DuRapau, Mackenzie Gaye’, and Sophia Struve competed in the girls 10 & Under Medley Relay. Kamry also placed 21st in the state for 10 & Under 50-meter Breaststroke.
Members of the 2017-2018 swim team are Jack Battaglia, Jeremy Byrnes, Ace Caballeros, Aubree Caballeros, Taytum Canepa, Johnny Caserta, Brenden Causey, Brennan Crowe, Alex Cox, Audrey Cox, Xander Davis, Kiley Doody, Kamry DuRapau, Kennadie DuRapau, Danny Franatovich, Alex Gauthier, Mackenzie Gaye’, Kayleigh Hendrix, Gabriel Hernandez, Chloe Jorns, Kyleigh Lacoste, Mia Kennedy, Connor McAllister, Alexis Muscarello, Emily O’Neil, Shawn O’Neil, Nereda Richard, Mehling Shipley, Sophia Struve, Peyton Sylvia, Justin Tanner, Kaitlyn Thomas, Zoey Wolfe, and Justus Woodward.
The Bluefins will host an informational meeting on Tuesday, July 31st at 7:00 p.m. at The Gathering. All interested in joining the 2018-2019 team are encouraged to attend.
The meeting will give important information to those that are interested in joining the team, as well as information on how your swimmer could swim for free.
Visit the St. Bernard Swim Club Facebook page for more information.