Tessa Dudunake

Elms College sophomore women's swimmer Tessa Dudunake (Northampton, Mass.) was selected as this week's female student athlete spotlight.

A nursing major at Elms, Dudunake is in her second season as a member of the Blazers' women's swim team.

During the 2010-11 season, Dudunake garnered Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Swimmer of the Week accolades twice. At the two-day 2010 GNAC Championships in December, Dudunake finished first in the 50-yard breaststroke (33.07) and helped the 200-yard medley relay team set a new GNAC record with a time of 1:57.27. At the season-ending New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships, she earned three top 10 finishes in individual events including a fourth place mark in the 100-yard individual medley (1:03.41), and ninth place finishes in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.70) and the 50-yard freestyle (25.95). Dudunake's time of 1:03.41 in the 100-yard IM broke the Elms school record in the event, while her time of 25.80 in the 50-yard freestyle earlier in the three-day event also established a new school mark. In addition, she was a part of four top 10 and school-record setting relay squads, including the 200-yard medley relay (1:56.44), the 400-yard medley relay (4:17.69), the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:44.37) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:48.59).

Briefly describe your favorite sports moment (playing or as a fan):

My favorite sports moment was joining the Elms College swim team especially because of Coach Tyler!

Who has been your biggest influence in sports and why:

My biggest influence has been my sister because she acts as a second mom to me.

Why did you choose to attend Elms College:

My favorite place to travel to is the beach because it's nice.

Where is the one place you would like to travel to in the future and why:

I'd like to travel to Greece because my ancestors are from there.