Cailey Simard's Remarkable Run at BSU

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She will be remembered as one of the most consistent winners in the history of Bridgewater State University athletics.

Whenever Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.) was on the diving board in a dual meet, a tri-meet, a quad meet, an invitational meet or the Little East Conference Championships, it nearly always meant a victory for the Bears' women's swimming & diving team.

Simard recorded 65 career victories while competing on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards in those meets, and the five times that she didn't place first, she was second.

It has been a remarkable run for Simard beginning in her freshman season of 2022-23 through her senior year.

She never finished out of first place more than twice in a season and was the Little East Diver of the Year all four seasons.

Now, the end of Simard's magnificant BSU career is arriving this week with her second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships.

Simard will take part in the 1-meter diving trials on Thursday at 12:45 p.m. on the campus of Indiana University-Indianapolis with the finals at roughly 7:23 p.m.

She will return to the pool on Saturday also at 12:45 p.m. for the trials of the 3-meter event with the finals at roughly 7:58 p.m.

And that will mark the conclusion of quite a four years for Simard on the diving board for the Bears.

"I don't think it has (hit me) yet," said Simard, a physical education major. "A lot of people have asked me that and I still don't think it's hit me."

When the time for reflection does arrive, Simard can recall all of the many significant moments and all of the record-breaking performances since her first competition at BSU on Oct. 15, 2022.

Simard owns four BSU records for six and 11 dives on both boards. She was never challenged at the Little East Championships in four straight seasons, setting meet records, and reached the NCAA regional meet all four years.

It was a career full of winning for Simard, exceeding what she thought might happen.

"When I came to Bridgewater, I didn't really have any expectations," said Simard, a 29-time Little East Diver of the Week in her career. "I was kind of in a phase where I didn't know if I wanted to dive super seriously.

"I think I've gotten a lot better, just from the experience and the coaching. My coaches and my teammates really pushed me. Freshman year, I realized how important it was and I needed to focus and that's when I'd do my best."

Simard followed in the footsteps of her mother, Kelly Simard, a 1999 Bridgewater State graduate who was on the swimming & diving team.

The two visited BSU when Cailey was a senior at Haverhill High School and a connection was made.

"We had known she was a pretty good diver," said BSU coach Michael Caruso. "We didn't think she'd have some interest here, to be honest. She was Division I-capable and was looking at New Hampshire and Vermont.

"At the end of March, she wanted to take tour here. I took her and her mom on a golf cart around campus, met the team. Her mom texted me before they were leaving that Cailey was in the bookstore buying all sorts or T-shirts and sweatshirts."

So Simard settled on her mom's alma mater and developed into the greatest diver in program history.

Simard is the only Bridgewater State woman to qualify for the NCAA swimming & diving meet, and now she's done it twice.

Simard placed third on the 1-meter board at the regionals and 12th on the 3-meter board this season.

Along with the success of Simard, BSU has built depth among its women divers. This season, she was joined by sophomore Gianna Varady (Highland Park, N.J.) and freshman Sienna DeLucia (Wallingford, Conn.) at the regionals.

It didn't take long for Caruso and the coaching staff to recognize that there was something about Simard.

"The first time she dove competitively, you could see," said Caruso. "She was setting records (as a freshman) and you said, 'Something is going on here.'

"She has the ability to focus when the time calls for it. She gets into her competitive zone. That's what you see more than anything else."

Nicole Radanovics, a 2018 BSU graduate who dove for the Bears, has been an assistant coach for three seasons after helping the staff in Simard's freshman year.

Radanovics, like Simard, is from Haverhill and they had the same youth diving coach, Becky Driscoll.

"I always kind of knew of her from having the same childhood diving coach and I saw her progress," said Radanovics. "She's been so consistent and such a powerful diver her whole career.

"It sends a big message when you're going to regionals as a freshman. She's earned this."

Radanovics has watched the hard work that Simard has put in to her diving throughout her career.

"She has a level of dedication and a level of excellence that she holds herself to," said Radanovics. "It kind of drives everything she does. She cares very deeply about pushing herself. She cares very deep about doing the best she can.

"It translates into her academics and her personal realtionships. She's always pushing to do better and be better."

And that has brought Simard back to the NCAAs.

Last year in Greensboro, N.C., making her national debut, Simard was 28th on the 1-meter board and 26th on the 3-meter board.

With that experience in the bank, Simard is looking for an improved outcome in her finale.

"I think it's going to be better the second time because I've been there one time and already have that experience," said Simard, who began diving at the age of eight. "So I think I'll be more comfortable.

"Last year, I think I was super nervous. I was very excited. It's a different environment than anything we've ever competed in.

"I learned a lot about being patient, taking my time and being confident. That'll really help me this year. I'll definitely be less nervous, more confident and excited that it's my last meet."

That last meet is taking place in the national spotlight, giving a chance for Simard to end her sensational four years in a big way.

"It's perfect," said Radanovics. "If you had to write it, you couldn't write it any better. She gets a second year at the nationals and culminates with her last dive on the biggest stage in collegiate sports.

"I'm super happy for her that she gets to do that. I think it'll be a really special way for her to round out her career."

One last meet for Cailey Simard with a chance to add an All-American tag to her long list of achievements.

"I think the goal was just to get back here this year," said Simard. "I didn't set a place goal because anything can happen. When I just go and have fun, I tend to do better."