Big swim meet today. You head to the locker room to prepare mentally and physically for the upcoming battle. As you enter the pool area, you take notice of the serenity of the water; undisturbed it resembles a large turquoise mirror. All you hear is the murmur of the water being filtered. And you focus on the huge murals on the wall: "This Is Our House." "Life Is Short - Swim Hard." It all sinks in. In a short while, water will be rockin' and the fans will be cheering the team to another victory.

As one of the 32 student-athletes that comprise the Lady Daler Varsity Swimming team, that sets the scene for every one of the home meets held in the Farmingdale High School pool. Head Coach Ken Ilchuk directs the team in the various events. "Swimming is usually viewed as an 'individual' sport," relayed Coach Ken. "But, in dual meet competition," he continued, "scoring goes five-deep in every race and actually encourages (team) depth." For example, a 2-3-4 finish in a race will beat a first-place finish 9 to 7. It takes a total of 89 points to win a meet and the most any individual can score is 12 points. So, depth of team is a very important factor. "With 30+ girls on the team, we've been successful using our depth to win meets," he said.

Swimming, swimming ... keep on swimming. This "school" of young girls is searching for victories. They take it to the limit during every practice and league meet. Senior members Natalia Casino, Krista Klicpera, Annette Muscarella, Amy Plank, Maureen Pye, Jen Reinhart and Nicole Snyder have been the leaders during the 2003 season. Juniors Ashley Bernot, Kelly Harris, Emily Laine, Karla Leite, Allison Mead, Crystina Meza, Lauren Misuraca, Kristina Rulli, Amanda Siminerio and Alex Trypuc have made major contributions to the program. Swimming sophomores include Tina Ardito, Jillian Donaldson, Maggie Farrington, Sinead Kinney, Tracey Klicpera, Lilian Ma, Pricilla Pouchie and Courtney Romeo. Freshmen are represented by Jasmine Batchelor, Claire Blackmore, Bridgit Farrington, Caitlin Rowan, Heather Smith, Sonia Thalappilli and Nicole Zeno. "It's a hardworking group," spoke Coach Ilchuk. "Our seniors asked for two-a-day prior to the season." The practice sessions were instituted for what is believed to be the first time in the history of the program. The Lady Dalers maintain a 40-9 dual meet record over the past four years. During that time, they have captured two division titles and one conference championship.

That consistency doesn't happen magically. Good technique is stressed in every practice. More than 60 percent of each session contains drill work for various skill sets. Team members are asked to be efficient in all four strokes (freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke) and that is learned through constant drilling. All told, it has enabled the team to finish in the top five at the county championships during the past few years. There is nothing in sports more exciting than the medley relays. The diving competition is most impressive. Grab your swim cap and goggles and head to the pool. Take a look at the murals on the wall. "No Pain - No Gain." Daler Ladies just do it.

Watch for local updates and support the team during the Nassau County championships.

Natalia has been one of the standouts for the Lady Daler's Varsity Girls Swim team during the fall season. She is a girl with a mission. "I don't believe (in) nor utter the words 'I can't,' " she stated. "If my coach needs me to do something, I'm ready to give it my all." We're talking Natalia - president of the Student Council and member of the Key Club for the past two years and the Spanish Honor Society for the last three years. She plays the piano, the violin and sings in both choral and vocal jazz, is part of the Spanish Church Choir since the eighth grade and, there's more. She has lettered in badminton since her freshman year.

Natalia works with the Outreach Program at her church. "My mom has been a member and brought me along since I was four years old," she said. "You get to help and touch (the lives of) so many." As a member of SKY at St. Kilian's, she has been involved visiting hospitals, participating in 30-hour fasts, food distributions and volleyball marathons. She's also been an altar server for the Spanish Mass during her elementary years from the third to the ninth grade.

Natalia plans to attend college but is yet undecided on a major. As favorites, she cites social studies as a way of learning about historical events saying, "There's so much information to learn from." English ranks in the top two, as well. "It's nice to express your point of view through writing." She has had an asthmatic condition since she was 10 years old and has found a sense of accomplishment in fighting through it to participate in sports. She has continually worked to improve her endurance. Her perspective makes an instant impression on everyone. "I'm an individual on a team, not on a team as an individual," she spoke. Take note, Natalia brings out the Daler in everyone.

As a Daler student-athlete, Krista has been an incentive to many. She has been involved with swimming for the past nine years. "I started as a developmental swimmer with the Farmingdale Swim Club (FSC) and eventually made it to the Varsity team," she mentioned. "I give FSC credit for making me believe in myself."

Her studies are very important to her. "I enjoy math and science and find them both interesting and mysterious," she added, "and there is so much more that can be discovered." Her schedule is full. There's the Dalerettes, Girl Scouts, National Honor Society, German Honor Society, German Club, Chorus and the FHS Marching Band. She enjoys bike riding and dancing, likes to sing and plays the clarinet and the flute. "Being a Girl Scout," Krista said, "I'm constantly doing community service." This includes making blankets for preemie-babies and making reading tapes for blind children. She also has been a volunteer coach for the FSC.

Her post high school plans include college. "I would like to continue to swim in college," she said. She would like to become a genetic lab technician and minor in secondary education. Krista is one of the captains of the swim team and feels "the responsibility to make swimming fun and enjoyable." "I encourage every girl to be the best they can be," she explained, "and always act with good sportsmanship whether we win or lose." She has worked hard to become a better freestyle swimmer. Her biggest inspiration is her coach. "He always pushes me to do things I never thought I could do," Krista admired. "He inspires every girl to always be their best. No matter the situation, he always looks up instead of down and is truly my biggest inspiration." Krista has what it takes to be a motivational Daler.

Nicole represents the heart and soul of the FHS Varsity Swim team. As a captain for this year's squad, she "tries to always keep everything fun, have a positive attitude and motivate everyone to become the best."

She began her career in the seventh grade on the Howitt Middle School team. "As I moved up to the high school team, I also joined the Farmingdale Swim Club," she stated. She continues to find ways to improve. "I've been trying to break down my freestyle stroke," she noted, "and work to improve my lung capacity and reaction time."

On the scholastic scene, Nicole "really enjoys English and fashion design." Both have allowed her to be creative and, "as my teachers say, think outside the box." She runs spring track, which has kept her in shape during the off season. Nicole enjoys designing CD covers, bike riding, running and reading adventure books. She is an avid Yankee fan.

She intends to go to college and become an athletic trainer or physical therapist. She plans to continue swimming at the university level. Nicole has supported a number of community service projects. She has helped clean up the bike path for the Massapequa Park Bicycle Club, spent time at church fairs and did some bell ringing for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Nicole has made everyone proud as one of the all-time Daler greats.