D-R Falcons Swim Team 2016-2017 Season Wrap Up

The D-R Swim Team, with Head Coach Bob Hassan and Assistant Coach Kevin Tente, was established in 2011. They practice off-campus. At the East Providence Boys and Girls Club. From 6:30 to 8:30 at night. In the winter. In spite of these less-than-convenient circumstances, the team has produced Massachusetts Sectional and State qualifiers each and every year. This year was no different. Nine team members qualified for Sectionals and four (in both individual and relay events) went the next step and qualified for State Finals.

Finishing his fifth year as head coach, Bob Hassan pointed out this season presented a few new challenges. “This season’s schedule had us swimming nearby teams that were not part of our conference. This included a trip to Martha’s Vineyard,” reports Coach Hassan.

These challenges were not only logistical, but also financial. The Swim Team is one of several parent funded sports at D-R. Adding additional meets brings with them added fundraising demands. Coach Hassan says this added responsibility is not lost on him and his coaching staff, “A great big ‘thank you’ goes out to all the parents who made it possible for their kids to be part of the team this year. From participation fees and fundraising efforts to providing transportation to practices and helping at the meets, the D-R Swim Team appreciates the dedication they have shown.”

The DR Girls sent two relay squads to Sectionals at MIT this year. Captain Kaitlyn O’Connor, the team’s lone Senior, headed both the 200 Freestyle and 400 Freestyle Relay teams. She was joined by junior Megan Alves, sophomore Madison Correia, and sophomore Caroline Enos on the 200 Free relay team. The 400 Free relay included O’Connor, Alves, Correia and Sophomore Emma Wheeler.

The DR Boys had two qualify for States in individual events during the regular season, as well as sending a squad for the 200 Yard Medley Relay and the 200 yard Freestyle Relay. Sophomore Henry Ciannievi qualified individually for the 100 Yard Butterfly and the 500 yard Freestyle. Henry also set a new DR record for the 500 Free with a time of 5 minutes 13 seconds.

Junior Jeffrey Tran qualified for States in three individual events: the 50 Yard Freestyle, the 100 Yard Butterfly and the 100 Yard Backstroke. Jeff set a new DR record for the 50 Free with a time of 23.05 seconds.

Ciannievi and Tran were joined by Captain Owen Conti; a junior, and Bryan Abbott, also a junior, for the Medley and Freestyle relays teams. At the State championships, the boys set a new DR record for the 200 Free relay with a time of 1 minute 38.02 seconds.

Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Team Captains: Megan Alves, Owen Conti and Jeff Tran!

At their end of year banquet, the DR Swim Team honored Mrs. Kylee Hitz for her peerless dedication to the Falcons Swim Program. Mrs. Hitz was one of the parents responsible for organizing the program in 2011. Since that time, she has had the title of Parent Liaison and has spent countless hours organizing fundraising, scoring the meets, coordinating volunteers, keeping track of the accounting and working with the DR Administration and the Athletic Office. As well as tirelessly promoting the program in the off-season. She was recently recognized by the D-R School Committee for her hard-work and commitment to their student-athletes and being a community example of the “D-R Difference”.