Globe South Sports

For swimmer, it

was love at first sight

‘When I saw [Notre Dame girls’ swim team] win states, you want to be a part of a team like that.’

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / October 1, 2009

Caitlin Cronin was a believer the moment she soaked in the scene at the state championship meet four years ago. The Notre Dame of Hingham girls’ swim team was celebrating its first Division 2 state title and Cronin, then an eighth-grader, was hooked.

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“When I walked into Harvard’s pool, I saw their team unity, they were all in uniform cheering and had a lot of team spirit, that gets your attention,’’ recalled Cronin, who in her first three years at Notre Dame has helped the Cougars capture three more state titles.

“When I saw them win states, you want to be a part of a team like that. Just the look on [coach Mike Riley’s face], how happy he was, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.’’

Notre Dame now has its toughest task ahead this fall: winning its fifth straight title minus a talented cast that went 4-for-4 at the state meet.

Three graduates are now swimming for Division 1 college programs: Cara Vogel (Duke), Katy Radin (Boston University), and Ellesse Lunde (Purdue).

“They were the ones that really established it,’’ Riley said. “I talked it up, I planted the seed - but they let it grow and it was great.’’

Riley, though, still has Cronin, who won both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events for the third straight year. She also helped Notre Dame win the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 200 medley

“She was the main reason why we won state championship titles,’’ Riley said of Cronin. “But I can’t rely just on that one girl. She knows her position and what it takes to get the job done, but it doesn’t take one swimmer.’’

Senior captains Mary Kate Nelson and Clair Street return after helping ND fend off its chief rivals, Bishop Feehan and Bishop Stang, at the state meet.

Junior Erica Hasson also gained valuable experience at last year’s state meet by helping the 200 medley team 200 freestyle relay finish first and second, respectively.

Hasson was also fourth in the 200 yard IM and the 100 butterfly with times of 2:14.57 and 1:01.66.

“We had a great four seasons, but this season will show everyone that even though we lost those seniors we still have a good team,’’ said Cronin, who is considering Loyola (Maryland), Colgate, Duquesne, and Emery. “I know people look at us like they can beat us, but come states we’ll be ready. We’re ready now, so we’re excited.’’

Notre Dame (2-1 as of last week) opened the season with a loss to Bishop Feehan, similar to last year when they lost to Feehan early on before sweeping the South sectional and the state meet.

“We have some pretty big shoes to fill but as a team the girls sat down and said they want to defend their title,’’ Riley said. “We have a lot of work to do. We’ve come along in the first two weeks. The girls seem to be getting stronger and stronger.

“We’ve really started to build a tradition, which is great. One thing you try to do is set a precedent with the program. You have to have them understand what the team has been the last eight years and understand how hard it took to get where we are now and that we just don’t want to give it up.

Now Riley, who coached Cronin on the Weymouth Waves club team from seventh grade until last year, can only hope that this year’s state meet leaves an impression on one of his young middle-schoolers as it did on Cronin five years ago.

“I remember Caitlin as an eighth-grader deciding where she wanted to come to school,’’ Riley said. “I remember looking up to her and saying ‘Why not be a part of this?’ when we won states at Harvard.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.