By Alexandra Molnar, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Dorian McMenemy, a 2015 Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) graduate, has been to Hong Kong, Barcelona and London, to name a few desirable destinations. She can now add Kazan, Russia, to her list, after her visit at the end of July. McMenemy was not just there for the sights; she was swimming in the Fina World Championships.
McMenemy started swimming competitively at age 7, although her love for the water really began when she was first in the pool at age 2. She has lived in Northborough for her whole life, and spends most of her free time in the pool. She swam for the ARHS swim team her junior and senior years and has been competing for the Dominican Republic national team since 2011. She has competed in the World Championships in 2011, 2013 and now 2015.
In addition to swimming, McMenemy enjoys basketball. She played on the ARHS varsity basketball team her freshman and sophomore years. The young athlete loves swimming and basketball equally, but had to choose between them as they are both played in the same season. Since she already swam competitively internationally, McMenemy first chose to play basketball because she wanted to do something different.
She later joined the swim team, she said, because she really wanted to win a state championship for her school. She won the Division I State Championship two years in a row for the Algonquin Swim Team, the first ARHS swimmer in 18 years of the team’s existence to achieve this.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent my school and to be able to do something for my school,” she said.
Despite her successful high school experience, McMenemy is looking forward to attending Wagner College in the fall where she was recruited to compete on the swim team. Her major is undecided, but she is leaning toward business as she really liked her business and math classes in high school.
Her favorite part of being a member of the ARHS swim team, she said, is that “[the] team as a whole is very supportive, everyone cheers everyone on and you just know every meet that your team is always there to back you up.”
Competition also has its challenges. McMenemy cited having a bad meet but being able to persevere as important to her success. Balancing school and swimming was stressful at times, staying up late at night to finish homework after practice, but McMenemy’s work ethic got her through it.
“All the hard work that I put in the pool, I also do in the classroom. It’s just who I am,” she said.
This summer, McMenemy is swimming with Evolution Aquatics USA Swim Team, a club team based at Westboro Tennis and Swim Club, where she trains and for whom she competes as a part of USA Swimming. Her favorite strokes are the freestyle and butterfly.
Her competition record also includes representing the Dominican Republic in the London 2012 Olympics. Being only 15 years old when she competed there, McMenemy said she was very scared and nervous, but that it was a great experience.
“Go with what you know, don’t switch anything up. [I] visualize my race before the meet,” she said.
McMenemy said that her dad is her biggest role model.
“He’s very supportive. [He is] always the one to sign me up for meets, always there to cheer me on,” she said.
Her friends describe the young athlete as humble, hardworking and funny. She is also determined and independent.
“Being able to know while I race that whatever happens, it’s all on me; I don’t have to rely on anyone else,” McMenemy said.