Last Saturday, 45 swimmers hopped into the pool at Barclay Farm Swim Club to swim in Cherry Bowl for the final time.
The final swim was extra special for Barclay Farm swimmers David Rowe, Danielle DiCicco and Niki Zaso. They got the privilege of swimming at their home pool in their last Cherry Bowl. For all three of them, participating in the event for the final time was a surreal moment.
“It’s kind of bittersweet to graduate and have it at your own pool,” Rowe said. “It’s the perfect way to end it.”
“It’s awesome to end it with a bang, having Cherry Bowl at your home pool,” Zaso said. “It’s one of the most exciting and biggest competitions you’ll ever have.”
Rowe, DiCicco and Zaso all share a special bond. The three have swum at Barclay Farm since they were very young. Each of them is the youngest in their families and grew up watching their siblings race in Cherry Bowl.
“Our families were really into it so it was kind of like following your siblings,” Rowe said.
DiCicco’s first time competing in Cherry Bowl was the last time Barclay Farm hosted it in 2002.
“We were all 5 years old when it was here and that was my first time competing,” she said. “So it’s kind of cool to go full circle with things.”
DiCicco didn’t recall feeling a lot of nerves when she hopped into the pool for the first time.
“I wasn’t really that nervous,” she said. “The older kids were very supportive to us.”
Rowe described the atmosphere at Cherry Bowl as unlike any other he’s experienced.
“I remember being really little when it was here,” he said. “It was always the most exciting meet.”
Despite having a lot in common, the three Barclay Farm graduates each had different athletic paths in high school. Rowe swam for Cherry Hill East and was part of the 2015 state championship team. Conversely, DiCicco swam for Cherry Hill West and swam with the Lions medley relay team. Zaso went to Cherry Hill East, but did not swim. Instead, she played on the Cougars’ girls soccer and lacrosse teams.
Even though all three played in some big games and meets in high school, they all agreed there is something different about being in Cherry Bowl. Rowe said one of his favorite parts of the event is meeting alumni and former swimmers. For DiCicco, she loves seeing the community come together and volunteer to put on the event.
“Every parent, whether they had a kid competing or not, was here setting up,” she said. “They put a lot of hard work into it.”
Each of the three plans to continue their respective athletic careers in college. Rowe will be attending Seton Hall in the fall, DiCicco is going to Drexel University and Zaso will attend West Chester University.
Even though the three graduates will no longer be swimming for their respective swim clubs, all three vowed to continue attending future Cherry Bowls.
“I’m excited to see everybody a year from now,” Zaso said.
“It’ll be cool to see the younger kids we know now grow up,” DiCicco said.
