A splash of victory

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

They spend a lot of time underwater. They practice six days a week, with no offseason. They swim for various teams throughout Northeast Philadelphia. They practice sprints, build endurance and train year-round.
After all, practice makes perfect.
And for the past six years, that’s exactly what they’ve been.
Say hello to the Archbishop Ryan High School swim team.
They have talent. They have dedication. They have leadership.
And now, they have another championship title.
The Ragdolls were named Catholic League champions on March 3 for the sixth year in a row. The 32 members of the team competed in 11 events during the competition.
"It felt really good to win," said Laura Mastrangelo, who placed first in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:45.82. "We have a great team and we worked really hard for this."
The victory was six months in the making, with vigorous practices and meets along the way. Some of the girls, though, have been preparing for this their entire lives.
"I’ve been swimming since I was three," said senior Nicole DiGiovanni, who claimed her fourth league crown with this season’s victory. "I just always loved being in the water."
But while most of the team has been swimming since they were old enough to jump into the pool, Kimberly Krzaczek had a much later start.
"My best friend swam, so I just joined the team because she did," said Krzaczek. "She eventually moved away, but I stayed with swimming. I started to really like it. And I had a pool in the back yard, so I was swimming constantly."
It looks like her time in the water paid off.
"I placed first in the one-hundred breast stroke and the fifty freestyle," said Krzaczek, who had a new personal best time in the breaststroke with a time of 1:07.97.
Krzaczek also placed first in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
"The girls looked like champions on Saturday," said Ryan coach Ed Macko. "They came out ready to win. They worked hard all season, and I’m proud of them."
It was certainly a lot of work to reach the point of a Catholic League championship victory. Although their season officially runs mid-November through March, the Ragdolls train year-round.
"There’s a lot of dedication involved," said senior Maureen McKenzie. "We practice six days a week and usually have a meet once a week. But we swim in the summer, and usually with club teams. We really swim all year round. You can’t be on this team unless you’re dedicated."
And with dedication comes support.
"The team spends so much time together, because we’re always practicing together," said Mastrangelo. "But it’s great because we all love each other. We’re one big happy group, and when we’re together we have a blast. We dance a lot and listen to music. We leave little notes for each other and bottles of Gatorade to get each other pumped up before a big meet."
Although the girls definitely know how to have fun and enjoy one another’s company, it’s not always fun and games.
"The week before a big meet, we do more sprint work," said Krzaczek. "It can get pretty intense."
Thanks to the girls’ support of one another, the pressures of winning can be overshadowed by the excitement of cheering for teammates.
"We have a really close team," said McKenzie. "The team aspect is definitely what I am going to miss most after graduation. It’s such a great group of girls, and I’m really going to miss them."
McKenzie is one of many seniors who will be saying goodbye to their red-and-black colors in a few months. And after swimming for the past four years as a Ragdoll, she’s not looking forward to leaving her team.
"It’s really great to end my time with Ryan with another championship," McKenzie said. "But I don’t want to leave. I’m really going to miss this team and Mr. Macko."
And then there’s the coach — where to begin?
The coaching guru has guided the Ragdolls to victory for the past decade. Along the way, he’s been a tough coach but an exceptional mentor to these athletes. A lot has changed in the past 10 years, but Macko’s ability to teach and influence these athletes has remained a constant.
"Talk about the word ‘dynasty’ in sports and you’ll think of Ed," said Ryan athletic director George Todt. "Since he’s taken over the program, he has done an unbelievable job. He approaches things with such intensity and set high goals for the girls. He’s a remarkable coach."
And with six championship titles in a row, there’s no questioning Macko’s skills. He has taught the Ragdolls passion, dedication and athletic skills.
But, most important, he has taught them the joy of teamwork.
"I like to swim," said DiGiovanni. "But my favorite part is the team. I love my teammates." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com