By Nafeesa Connolly
Staff Writer

Aside from competing as Simmons Sharks, two student-athletes gave the second annual Boston Sharkfest a whirl on Saturday, plunging into 60 degree Boston Harbor water for a one-mile race, just for fun.
Senior crew members Taylor Nealand and Jane Walsh swam from Piers Park Sailing Center in east Boston to the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Federal Courthouse at Fan Pier in South Boston, alongside 800 other participants.
Open to experienced, open-water swimmers only, Nealand and Walsh had a “got nothing to lose” attitude and gained memorable experiences as first time participants. Below, Nealand and Walsh talk about their experience, the water, and the stories that make them want to do it again.
Why Sharkfest?
Walsh: One day, Taylor came home and said we should try it. So we joked about it for a couple weeks, then I signed up.
Nealand: It honestly just seemed like a fun thing to do… I’m always looking for out-of-the-ordinary things to try and experience.
Did you raise money and was it for any causes?
Nealand: It’s set up so people can swim it for any reason… We met this amazing woman that had flown to Boston the night before from California to swim for her daughter that had passed away from hydrocephalus. She swims in a lot of different races with her family and she ended up giving us each a swim cap to wear to raise awareness. I had never heard of hydrocephalus before, but that’s why she does it, to inform people that it’s a growing issue.
Walsh: There was also a woman from Illinois that received a kidney transplant last year and was now swimming across the harbor with her 13-year-old son because they wanted to do something amazing to celebrate.
How was the water?
Nealand: It was COLD! We were part of a small group that didn’t wear wetsuits so that made us nervous from the get-go. I’ll admit I screamed when we jumped in from mere shock but after two minutes I was numb, so it was fine.
Would you do it again?
Walsh: If you asked me before the swim whether or not this would be a once in a lifetime thing I would have told you that I’ll do it one time and never again. But, I loved how we met so many different people, all with the same goal of doing something…
Nealand: I would absolutely do it again, and I plan on it. It was such a fun time and really an awesome experience… To be able to say that we swam across the Boston Harbor is totally cool.
Any tips for future swimmers?
Both: If you’re not a swimmer or athlete, definitely train for it. It took us about 40 minutes and we were going pretty slow and stopping to take pictures.