ClareEckert

Many girls are aware that the Olympics took place this summer, but what most of them probably do not know is that three Marian alumnae participated in the 2024 Olympic trials. That is right, not just one, but three graduates competed in the 2024 Olympic Trials: Abi Knapton ’16, Isabella Pantano ’20, and Jojo Randby ’21. And who better to ask about each of their experiences than the athletes themselves? 

ABI KNAPTON ’16

Knapton first began diving her freshman year of high school. Knapton had a background in gymnastics, which helped her transition to diving, as the skill sets for both gymnastics and diving are very similar. And once she started diving, she just could not get enough. 

Knapton first started diving at the Nebraska Diving Club, a diving club in Lincoln. Every night after school, she would commute from Omaha to Lincoln for practice—talk about commitment!

After beginning her diving journey at the Nebraska Diving Club, Knapton dove for Marian’s diving team her senior year. Though she only dove at Marian for a year, she says she had an amazing experience on the team. Knapton really enjoyed getting to represent her school through the dive team and wished she had done the team all four years.

Knapton continued her diving journey at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for five years. She loved the community and “Husker spirit.”  Knapton fondly recalls how as a little girl she dreamed of being a Husker gymnast. Though this dream may have ended up looking a little different, it came true just the same. Knapton graduated from Nebraska in 2021. 

Knapton achieved a great amount during her collegiate diving career including being awarded Nebraska Athletics’ Female Student Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, and First Team All American all six years of her collegiate eligibility. 

Knapton then went on to dive at Rutgers University-New Brunswick for a year after graduating college. She was able to do this by utilizing her “COVID year:” an extra year of athletic eligibility some collegiate athletes were granted due to the interruption of COVID-19. Then after finishing her “COVID year” at Rutgers, Knapton stayed and trained in New Jersey for the 2024 US Olympic Diving Trials. 

It had been a long term goal of Knapton’s to attend the Olympic trials and the timing was right, so she took the plunge, pun intended. To train, she would practice twice a day and lift three times a week. Knapton was also working two 12-hour shifts a week as a nurse on top of that. 

Knapton was able to make it to the Olympic trials. She competed at the 2024 US Olympic Diving Trials in Knoxville, Tennessee in both the synchronized 10-meter event and in the individual 10-meter event. 

Knapton said the Olympic trials meet was an extremely surreal experience because the competitive spirit and culture of the meet was overwhelming. 

Knapton unfortunately strained a tricep in her final dive during the synchronized 10-meter event, which affected her performance in her individual event. And because of this unexpected injury, she said she is tempted to compete at the trials again. 

ISABELLA PANTANO ’20

The second Marian alumna who participated in the 2024 US Olympic Trials is Isabella Pantano. 

Pantano grew up in a family of swimmers, so it was only fitting Pantano “dip her toe in the water” as well. And dip she did.

Pantano first started swimming at Omaha Country Club’s recreational league in the summer. She then started swimming competitively her freshman year of high school for Greater Omaha Aquatics, a competitive swimming club in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Pantano started swimming competitively because it was her lifelong dream to be on the Marian swim team. Marian’s swim team was especially close to her heart because her mom was the assistant coach. Pantano’s mom coached Marian’s swim team from 2000-2011. Because of this, Pantano grew up going to Marian’s swim team practices and splashing in the pool alongside the older girls. 

And Pantano’s dreams came true when she made the team her freshman year. She said although swimming is often thought of as an individual sport, Marian’s swim team really made it into a team sport. Pantano said her time on the team taught her about teamwork and allowed her to feel like she was contributing to something bigger than herself.  

Pantano continued her swim career at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Some of her favorite accomplishments during her collegiate swim career include breaking her school’s record for the 100 meter backstroke as a sophomore and being elected team captain her junior and senior year. Pantano graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2024.

And we can not forget Pantano’s accomplishment of getting not one, but two, Olympic trials cuts. She qualified for the Olympic trials in the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke. 

Pantano graduated in May and when she got her trials cuts that same month she decided to stay on at the University and train to attend the trials. Pantano trained for the Olympic trials by increasing her yardage when training. And then in the weeks before the meet, she said she “tapered down” and decreased her training intensity leading up to the meet. 

Pantano attended the 2024 US swimming Olympic trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. She described the meet as the “coolest thing ever.” Pantano said if you saw her at the meet, you would have seen she was smiling the entire time. She also said seeing the Olympic rings displayed above her was such a surreal experience. Pantano fondly recalls little kids approaching her for autographs. She also got to attend the meet with 10 other members of her college team, which she said made it a lot more special. 

Pantano said she had a “great time,” but not “great times.” But here she is just being humble because, not only did she attend the trials, but she received 26th place in the 200 meter backstroke. Pantano was very satisfied with her performance. She did decide the 2024 Olympic trials meet would unfortunately be her last, but boy, was that a way to go out! 

JOJO RANDBY ’21

And last but not least, Marian’s third grad who took part in the Olympic trials is Jojo Randby. Randby got her start in swimming with Regency Pool’s summer recreational league. Randby’s summer league coaches saw her talent and encouraged her to pursue swimming more competitively. 

Randby started swimming for Greater Omaha Aquatics when she was 10. She said the intensity level ramped up very quickly and she had to work hard to catch up, but boy, did she. 

Randby swam for Marian’s swim team all four years. She describes her experience on the Marian swim team as her first experience being on a real team. Randby describes how close knit and supportive the team was of each other. She always felt extremely supported by the Marian community and her coaches. The saying “at Marian you do not meet your husband, but your bridesmaids” rang true for Randby as she met some of her closest friends on the Marian swim team. 

Randby currently swims at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is a senior. Some of her favorite collegiate swimming accomplishments include being the Nebraska school record holder for the 100-yard breaststroke and qualifying for the Olympic trials. 

Though Randby has seen much success throughout her career, she has also overcome much adversity. She was chronically injured throughout her high school career; she strained a muscle in her leg in 2021. However, Randby never let this stop her. In high school, she went as far as tying her legs together during practice and swam using only her arms. 

Randby decided to compete at the Olympics because she recognized that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and the timing was right. She trained for the Olympic trials by increasing her yardage, strength training in the pool, and strength training outside of the pool. Randby credits much of her success to lifting. She hugely values nutrition and fueling herself accurately. Randby has also worked with sports psychologists to get in the right mental state for meets. Lastly, she said it is important to prioritize your physical health by stretching and going to rehab. 

Randby qualified in the 100-meter breaststroke. She said the theatrics of the meet were unreal as the meet showcased giant lights and lasers. 

Randby was satisfied with her performance at the meet and said it was a full circle moment to compete with Pantano again. Randby will not be competing in the next Olympic trials as she will be onto her next adventure, dentistry school. 

COACH 

B.J. CHRISTIANSEN

 Marian swim team’s head coach B.J. Christiansen had a lot to say about these three girls’ amazing feats. Christiansen has known the two swimmers, Pantano and Randby, since they were little, as he coached them on their club teams. Being able to watch their journeys from falling in love with the sport to reaching these high achievements has been quite the journey for him to witness. 

Christiansen recalls Pantano’s fierce competitiveness on the team, but also her fun energy. He says one year at State swimming Pantano was noticed by announcers because she was dancing during her pre-race routine with a huge smile on her face. Christiansen also recalls how much of an amazing role model Randby was on the team. He recalls her giving other athletes encouragement and advice frequently throughout her time at Marian. “Dedication and knowledge are at the forefront of Jojo’s career,” he said. Christiansen hopes Randby will one day return to the team as a coach. And though Knapton only dived for Marian for a year, he recalls how good of an example she was for the younger girls on the team. “She brought with her a wealth of experience and strong focus, which provided invaluable knowledge to the other divers on the team,” Christiansen said.