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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
The Wellesley High School girls swim and dive team participated in the 31st Provincetown Swim For Life Paddler and Flotilla event on September 8. The event is a Provincetown tradition, during which thousands of swimmers brave not only their fears, but the natural harbor’s unpredictable currents, chilly waters, and strong tides to raise funds dedicated towards AIDS, women's health, and the community.
According to the Provincetown Community Compact Inc., a non-profit founded in 1993, “The event has grown to attract swimmers, kayakers, volunteers and friends from throughout the country and abroad. With the assistance of 150 volunteers and 400 swimmers, this annual fall ritual has become an event that defines the best of the Provincetown spirit.”
The WHS girls swim and dive team swam 1.4 miles in Provincetown Harbor. “[We] were able to donate over $3500 to AIDS, women's health and the Provincetown community,” said senior and team co-captain Maeve Mungovan. “Wellesley High Junior, Nellie Thompson, finished 1st for women and 3rd overall. Divers participated by kayaking the same route and helped swimmers as needed. Provincetown welcomes us with open arms each year as we have been participating in this event for over 20 years. It's mentally and physically challenging to swim a mile and a half in open water, but knowing that we have the Provincetown community cheering us on, it really pushes us to complete the swim."
“It's the biggest bonding experience for our team,” added senior co-captain Jane Wayman. “We were psyched to have the divers with us this year."
According to Mungovan, all participants in the water faced many challenges along the route, as there were multiple shark sightings around both the Cape and Provincetown late in the summer.
“Even though water temperatures were warmer than usual, the day was windy and cold and the surf was rough on both the swimmers and kayakers,” explained Mungovan.
“Having the divers kayak alongside the swimmers made us truly feel like one team,” added co-captain Emma Petrovich. “The girls look forward to continuing this annual tradition and to the season ahead."
