Academy of Notre Dame swimmer Kaitlin Perni is Main Line Girls’ Athlete of the Week

A: I think my best event is probably 100 free. The event is very fast-paced, so I increase my tempo to pull me through the water and use my underwater kicks to help me get in and out of my turns quickly.

Q: What is your most vivid memory from your school record-breaking swims – can you share it with us?

A: I think my most vivid memory from my record-breaking swims would have to be at National Catholics during my sophomore year. I remember going into the meet with a clear mind and excited for some fast swimming with my teammates. At finals when I touched the wall, I was completely surprised when I had broken the records as well as  lifetime bests. It was an incredible meet that I’ll always remember.

Q: What (to you) has been your best memory at Easterns – can you share it with us?

A: I think my best memory from Easterns was last year when our 200 medley relay made it into the A-Final. During previous years all our relays seemed to end up in the middle of the B-Final so to make it into the A was very exciting for all of us.

Q: How do you feel you can best display leadership as Notre Dame swim team captain?

A: As team captain, I try to keep everyone motivated so they are able to compete to the best of their ability as well as remind them that swimming is supposed to be fun so they should enjoy themselves even when they are exhausted and are not in the mood to get in the pool.

Q: What (to you) has been your most memorable experience in your Notre Dame swimming career? Can you share it with us?

A: I think my most memorable experience in my Notre Dame swimming career was last year when we were able to beat Baldwin by one point. The whole meet we went back and forth and it came down to the 400 free relay, when we were able to clinch the win. We hadn’t beaten them in years, so it was very exciting for our team.

Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?

A: I practice Monday to Saturday, practices can be anywhere from 2-3 hours with additional dryland workouts afterward three days a week. A typical practice consists of warm up, stretching, a pre-set, then a main set. The main set changes daily and can be anything from a sprint freestyle set to a distance I.M. or prime stroke set.

Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?

A: Lately I’ve been working on the little aspects in my races such as the start, the turn, and the breakout. All these things are key to having a successful race as well as dropping time.

Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?

A: I first swam for Lower Merion Aquatic Club when I was 6. My favorite swimming venue now though would have to be Suburban Seahawks Club in Newtown Square. I am very grateful to be part of such an excellent program with so many talented coaches and swimmers.

Q: Who have been your biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

A: I am very grateful to have had Brigit Barry, Marie Cattie, and Charlie Kennedy guide me through my swimming career. I cannot thank Brigit enough for sacrificing so much for this team as well as pushing me to be the best I can be. Brigit is always looking out for my best interests and has really brought our team together as a whole. I would like to thank Cattie for always having faith in me and being there for me during the ups and downs. I would like to thank Charlie for making me into a well rounded individual and allowing me to achieve things beyond what I thought was possible.

Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.

A: On the day of a meet, I will eat a big breakfast and drink coffee to give me energy for my races. I also will usually eat a snack of nuts or fruit. I also like listening to pump-up music before my races and just relaxing by talking with my teammates.

Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of your swimming career outside of Notre Dame?

A: I think the highlight of my swimming career was at the MA long course Senior Championships at Bucknell during the summer going into my sophomore year. I remember the energy at finals was incredible and everyone on the Suburban Swim Club just seemed so pumped up. I believe I dropped time in each one of my races and was welcomed by a big hug from my coaches.

Q: You’ve committed to Drexel. What caused you to choose Drexel, and what other schools were in the running? What do you think you might want to major in at Drexel? Is there a particular career path that interests you?

A: Drexel had the perfect combination of academics and athletics. The coaches and team made me feel right at home and I knew that it was the place for me. I was also looking at Boston College and JMU but ultimately fell in love with Drexel. I am going to major in Nutrition and I hope to become a Nutritionist as well as a Personal Trainer.

Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Notre Dame? What sparked your interest in these activities?

A: The past couple of years I have participated in the iCan Shine Bike Camp, which helps children with disabilities learn how to ride a bike. The children always seem so happy and lively, every time I worked with them it was a wonderful experience that made me change my outlook on life. When I see them it makes me realize how fortunate I am to be able to do everything that I love everyday.

Fun facts – Kaitlin Perni

Favorite book: The Choice.

Favorite author: Nicholas Sparks.

Favorite TV show: One Tree Hill.

Favorite athlete: Dana Vollmer.

Favorite Movie: Sixteen Candles.

Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta.

Favorite color: Blue.

Person I most admire: “I admire my mom and dad. They are two of the strongest people I know. They teach me new things every day and allow me to be the best person that I can be.”

Birth date: May 28, 1998.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)