The sun shone bright on Sunday morning as mist rolled off of the Magothy River in Pasadena, Maryland. High Tide Farm welcomed hundreds of prospective swimmers to its annual Swim Across America (SAA) racing event. Swimmers checked in, donned their competition number, and prepped for a lengthy swim.
The race offered no monetary reward for its completion. It was not a qualifying event for high-level athletes. Yet, the event garnered hundreds of participants. The novice and seasoned swimmer alike wore neon-colored swim caps bearing the SAA logo as they lined up to race under the massive inflatable arch.
This begs the question, why? What was the attraction to plunge into the murky waters of an offshoot of the Chesapeake Bay? It was not for glory or personal gain. It was for a charitable cause that deeply affects the lives of many.
SAA is a charitable organization dedicated to raising money for the fight against cancer. Swimmers personally fundraised campaigns to donate to the organization and aid cancer research. According to the SAA website, the organization celebrates its fifteenth anniversary this year, and has a lifetime collection of over 100 million dollars for cancer research and patient programs. The race’s participants wore temporary tattoos with the words “In Honor Of…” on their bodies to carry their friends and family’s memory with them as they swam.
Loyola’s competitors in the race collectively raised over $17,000 for the event, making them a leading team. SAA carries special significance to the Swimming & Diving team due to the perseverance of alumna Faith Tyranski ‘22. Tyranski unfortunately lost her courageous seven-month battle with small cell ovarian cancer in June of 2023.
Grace Dwyer ’26 on the Women’s Swimming & Diving Team, expressed how impactful SAA was for her and her family.
“Doing SAA was especially important and significant to me this year. My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer this past June, so it really hits close to home and being able to do this in his honor meant everything to me,” Dwyer said.
Michael Venit ’26 was responsible for organizing Loyola Swimming & Diving’s participation in SAA this year. Venit continued the team legacy, motivated by tradition, team bonding, and honoring the memory of his loved ones.
“What really drove me to do it… was the fact that my uncle had cancer for over 10 years now. He sadly passed away on Aug. 9, and it really got me to want more people to sign up and fundraise more,” Venit said.
While miles of swimming may seem daunting, the exciting atmosphere conquered any lingering apprehension toward the event. The scene at High Tide Farm was jovial and full of love.
“It was super fun! I really enjoyed spending time with the team, and it was for a great cause!” Swimming & Diving member CC Leoni ’28 said.
Leoni completed her first open water swim for SAA on Sunday.
SAA inspired hundreds of swimmers to join the fight against cancer. The unity and care displayed by so many individuals who worked to raise money and swim for cancer research fostered awareness and support for the cause.
“Swim Across America provides an incredible opportunity to serve a purpose greater than ourselves. We are inspired by people like Faith to live with joy and courage, and to help others,” Swimmer Patrick Hayburn ’25 said.
