Catherine and Brittany Bayes reach the national stage in college swimming
Reaching the NCAA level is a dream for many athletes. Reaching the NCAA as a swimmer and having the chance to move to Florida, that’s a bonus.
Now in their senior year, twins Catherine and Brittany Bayes of Mullica Hill are set to represent the University of Tampa Spartans at the Division II national championship meet on March 14–17 in Greensboro, N.C.
While Catherine is happy and proud to be there, she keeps in mind the effort it took to get to this point.
“When I came to the University of Tampa, I came in the middle of the pack on the women’s swim team,” she said. “I knew that I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to get to the top of the pack, and I knew that making the NCAA would be very difficult but definitely a reachable goal. Since coming in freshman year, I worked hard, took every constructive criticism the coaches gave me and fought my way to the top of the pack.”
In any sport, the jump from high school to college is intimidating, as it turns into essentially a full-time job.
“In college, the level of seriousness is more intense. In high school, many people did other sports during other seasons, where in college, everyone is here because they love swimming, because they want to swim and only to swim,” Catherine said.
However, with a group of athletes dedicated to one sport, all wearing the same colors, Catherine said there is something special.
“The dynamic of college swimming is very different. For my team, the people you swim with are your best friends, roommates, people you hang out with and see every single day. It has much more of a family dynamic to it,” she said. “We are all so close with each other and it’s something I cherish very deeply and something I will miss immensely when I graduate.”
Being approximately 1,000 miles from home isn’t ideal as the twins enjoyed a family cheering section at swim meets in South Jersey when the duo swam at Clearview Regional High School, but Catherine said Florida isn’t the worst place to be, swimming outside year round, under palm trees and cabanas and blue skies.
And about having her sister by her side, Catherine said, “It means a lot to have each other. There isn’t anyone else I would rather share this experience with. We took a risk going so far away from home, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
With a combination of sister love and a solid, family atmosphere on the swim team, Catherine has been able to mold herself into a record breaking, NCAA star. She has broken multiple personal records, including her 400 freestyle and 400 medley times.
With the championships just weeks away, Catherine said her team is spending even more time together and is ready to compete.
