Sports Spotlight: Girls Swim and Dive

By Sun Venkat '23

Central Catholic is home to some of the best athletic teams in the MVC, yet Raiders pick and choose the teams they advertise and support. It is our responsibility as members of Central to cheer on all of our teams and give them the recognition they deserve.

During the fall season, while everyone was caught up in Friday night lights and the parting of the Red Sea, our very own Girls Swim and Dive team practiced for hours each day to prepare for their meets, while still supporting other teams at Central. Not only did they spend strenuous hours training, but they received some impressive accomplishments that went unnoticed.

The swim team has won 6 out of their 9 swim meets, beating competitive teams like North Andover and Haverhill. Along with that, the team participated in the MVC Championship meet, MIAA Sectionals, and MIAA States. They are just as deserving of the Red Sea as any other team.

Some seniors on the swim team, Margaret Lightburn, Allyson Lightburn, Emma Repici, and Anastasia Panas, recount their senior night, saying “mostly parents showed up to our senior night.” Despite that, the girls enjoyed other aspects of being on the swim team.

Captain Allyson Lightburn claimed that there was a “great camaraderie” on the swim team, and Captain Emma Repici recounted “pasta parties and movie nights” that allowed the team to bond. The members of the swim team do appreciate those who cheered them on, and the experiences they had when being on the team; however, I believe they deserve more.

What is stopping us from supporting all of our teams?

Let’s start new initiatives for all of our meets and games: parting the Red Sea, new and innovative themes (neon, pink, Adam Sandler), and more advertising so that everyone knows where to cheer our athletes on.

The Red Sea page is dedicated solely to communicate to Raiders about important school events, through social media. That platform should be utilized to promote all sports, not just a select few.

The Boys Swim and Dive team will be competing once the winter season starts, so let’s prove that we are the craziest fan section in America and cheer them on!