Cranford High School senior Isabella DeSimone is a four year varsity student-athlete in three sports, Swimming, Cross Country and Spring Track. On December 8th she signed a Letter of Commitment with Niagara University where she looks forward to continuing her stellar swimming career. Bella holds four Cranford High School swimming records, the 50m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle Relay, 200m Medley Relay, and 400m Freestyle Relay. In her Junior year, the team were the 2015 State Sectional Champs, the first time in school history. She was also part of the 200m Freestyle Relay team that broke the state record that year.
Bella was also part of the relay teams in track that set school records in the 4×100 and 4×800 relays. Along with earning four varsity letters, she also served as captain for all three sports teams.
Bella approaches her studies with the same intensity as her athletics and balances both with community service. She volunteers with the Cranford Rescue Squad as a as a certified EMT. As a certified swim instructor, Bella coaches the summer swim team at the Cranford Swim and Tennis Club. For her, the most rewarding experience has been being the Special Olympics swim coach for the Seahawks swim team.
Niagara University is located in the town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Niagara has a competitive Division I swimming program which is one of the reasons Bella chose the school. More importantly, Bella was impressed by the quality of the school’s nursing program. Compared to other schools, she found that Niagara had a high number of nursing majors, like herself, on the swim team. It seemed like a perfect fit.
(above, seated, l-r) Isabella’s dad Jim DeSimone, Isabella, her mom Carolyn, and brother Michael. (standing, l-r) Brother Chaz, Varsity Swim Coach Barbara Kolesa, Boys’ Swim Coach Colleen Donnelly, Varsity Girls’ Cross County and Track and Field Coach John Schiano, and Athletics Director Darren Torsone.
(above, l-r) DeSimone Family: Michael, Carolyn, Bella, Jim and Chaz.
(above, l-r) Lauren Byrne, Emily Wilson and Julia Reilly stand behind their friend Bella DeSimone after she signs her commitment letter to Niagara University.
