Charlie Nascimben Wins First State Title in CM Swimming History

Nascimben, a Holy Cross commit from Needham, set the State Meet record for the 100-yard Breaststroke (57.21 seconds).
Boston, Mass.— Senior Charlie Nascimben made history in the pool on Sunday afternoon.

Nascimben, a College of the Holy Cross commit from Needham, won the first Individual Swimming State Championship in the history of Catholic Memorial School at the MIAA State Meets at Boston University.
 
“Going into this meet I knew that it was my last chance [to win a State Championship] and that I needed to give it everything I got,” said Charlie.
 
“When I saw the time after I touched the wall, I was just so happy. I just couldn’t believe it and I was so relieved that all the pressure building up to this meet was finally gone."
 
Charlie won in record-breaking fashion. The senior won first place in the 100-yard Breaststroke with a time of 57.21 seconds, setting a State Meet record.

He also broke the CM school record for the 100-yard Freestyle, posting a 47.67 second time in his third place finish.
 
Last season at the State Meet, Charlie finished second in the Breaststroke. He said the disappointment from that race fueled his senior season.
 
“Ever since losing last year, I’ve been thinking about what I could do to make myself better and what I could do to win,” said Charlie, who said he got into the pool to begin training the day after last year's State Meet.

A three-time varsity captain from Needham, Charlie had won numerous individual accolades prior to his record-setting State Title. But, a piece of advice he received from Head Swimming Coach Mr. Patrick Murray after his sophomore season changed the trajectory of his high school career.
 
That season, Charlie had placed seventh in the 100-yard Freestyle at the State Meets. Mr. Murray urged Charlie to build up his stamina in the off-season. To Charlie, this meant rejoining the USA Club Swimming circuit that he had left in the 8th Grade due to fatigue.
 
“One of the main reasons why I rejoined club swimming was so that I could get some more help in [winning a State Title],” he said.

That next season — Charlie's first as a captain — Mr. Murray saw marginal improvement.
 
“Charlie is a coach’s dream,” said Mr. Patrick Murray.
 
“He has achieved great things in the pool because of his incredible work ethic and competitive spirit.  More important than any athletic quality, he has made the CM Swim Program better because of his kindness, sincerity, and thoughtfulness.”
 
In 2019, Charlie won the Catholic Conference Championship Meet MVP award. This season, he broke the 100-yard Breakstroke meet record at the 2020 South Sectional Championships when he finished in first place with a time of 57.25 seconds.

At that same meet, he joined James Scannell, Darius Gadsden, and Marcus Gadsden in setting the school record for the 200-yard Free Relay when the quartet posted a time of 1:31.37 for a third place finish.
 
“None of this would be possible without my teammates supporting me every day,” said Charlie.
 
“When I step up on the blocks and I see the whole team behind my lane cheering for me, it almost makes me cry. It really hits different. They motivate me every day and I just want to thank them for everything they have done for me.”

While Charlie plans celebrate the moment, he knows better than to rest on his laurels.

"I still have more swimming goals for my future," said Charlie.

"This was definitely a big one though, and I feel like I just completed a big part of my career."
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