When the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team starts practicing for the 2020-21 season later this month, a trio of seniors are ready to take the lead as the team's captains for the season.
Zoe Allyson,
Claudia Mahoney and
Clara Livermore were selected as captains for the year as they begin the fourth and final seasons with the program.
Allyson competes in the sprint free and backstroke, and has qualified for the MIAC Championships in each of her three seasons with the team. She took 12th in the 50 free at the 2019 MIAC Championships, and was part of the 200 medley relay that swam the fifth-best time in program history that same year. Livermore competes in breaststroke and freestyle events, and has a number of top-10 finishes to her name in her first three seasons with the program. She studied abroad in South Africa during the spring of her junior year in 2019. Mahoney - who is also a part of CSB/SJU's ROTC program - competes in freestyle and backstroke events, and, like Allyson, has qualified for the conference meet for three seasons. She took seventh in the 200 freestyle in 2020, and moved up or into the top 10 in program history in the 100 and 200 freestyle as a junior.
What is your major?
CM: Psychology major with a communication minor.
CL: Integrative Science with a psychology minor on a pre-OT track
ZA: Chemistry 👩🏽🔬
What is your dream job?
CM: To be an officer in the United States Army Military Intelligence Branch
CL: Occupational Therapist
ZA: I want to be a Prosthetist where I get to design my own prosthetics in a lab and also work with patients!
What is your go-to pre-meet meal?
CM: Two over-easy eggs with sliced tomato, avocado, and kale paired with a banana and peanut butter (sometimes a half a bagel) with water
CL: A big bowl of Alfredo pasta and garlic bread
ZA: Plain bagel with plain cream cheese (lame, I know)
Do you have a favorite pre-race pump-up song?
CM: Anything with a killer beat and most likely rap
CL: Hall of Fame (by The Script)
ZA: Unstoppable by Sia
The best ice cream flavor ever is ...
CM: Store-bought anything with coffee, but my dad and I make ice cream from scratch and that is my true favorite
CL: Cotton Candy
ZA: Birthday cake!!
Did you pick up any fun new hobbies in quarantine?
CM: I actually started to enjoy running.
CL: Taught myself how to do make up and fun hair styles
ZA: Doing puzzles! I have never done so many puzzles before in my life!
When did you start swimming, and what made you fall in love with it?
CM: I started swimming when I was eight years old and I loved it because it is a perfect balance between being a team and individual sport. I like that I am responsible for my own success, but then also contribute/cheer on my team.
CL: I started swimming around the age of eight and fell in love with it when I joined the high school team. I loved how welcoming all the girls on the team were and how it instantly felt right. I also loved to see how far i could push my limits everyday!
ZA: I started swimming in sixth grade and I kept with it because it was challenging but rewarding! And because I made lifelong friendships because it forces you to bond with all of your amazing teammates!!
What's your favorite part about being a member of the CSB swim/dive team?
CM: My favorite part about being on this team are the people within it. The coaching staff really cares about us as individuals and not just as athletes, and the athletes are more than just teammates but like a little family.
CL: The team has been amazing every year; everyone is so supportive inside and outside of the pool. It gave me a family away from home and I will be forever grateful for that :)
ZA: Hands down, my favorite part about the CSB swim & dive team is the people that I get to do it with! My teammates and coaches are my support system and the absolute best group of people!
