Bilunas All Smiles for U.S. Trials

This article is the sixth and final in a series setting the stage for Nebraska swimmers competing in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, June 26-July 3. Six Huskers from the 2015-16 women's swimming team have qualified for U.S. Trials.

Jeff Griesch
Huskers.com

Former Husker swimmer and Omahan Alexandra Bilunas hasn't had to work on her smile for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, but she has already started working to help other people with theirs.

Last weekend, while many of her Husker teammates were swimming at the Omaha Cup to prepare for the Trials, Bilunas was following the action and sending positive thoughts from her new home in Nashville.

Two weeks ago, near the end of her training for the most anticipated swim of her career, Bilunas headed to Tennessee to begin the next stage of her life - dental school.

Bilunas, who graduated from Omaha Duchesne Academy as the school's Athlete of the Year in 2010-11, swam her senior season for the Huskers with degree in hand after majoring in biological sciences at Nebraska. She attended graduate school at Nebraska in 2015-16 as a food science major, but has shifted her focus to dental school in Nashville.

"I have decided to continue my passion of serving the community I live in," Bilunas said. "I dream of providing adequate dental care for those less fortunate and have troubles receiving proper dental care and support."

While Bilunas is preparing for the next big thing in her life, she is definitely not looking past her swim in the 50 freestyle in Omaha on Saturday, July 2. In fact, she has trouble concealing her smile and containing her excitement just thinking about the moment she dives into the CenturyLink Center pool.

"I am super-excited to swim in front of the Omaha crowd! In 2008, I volunteered at Trials. In 2012, I watched the trials, and now in 2016, I am excited to compete in front of all my loved ones at trials," Bilunas said. "My parents have been fortunate to come see me swim at most of my meets, so I can't wait for them to see my last swim in the meet that I have dreamed about since I was a kid."

As Bilunas dreams about her final competitive swim, she knows it took every ounce of effort and mental toughness to achieve her qualifying time. In fact, she gave it the old college try...plus one.

"The statement third time's a charm is truly the best way to describe the swim, as funny as that may sound. My first attempt was in the individual 50-meter free, and when I touched the wall and saw that I missed the cut by a tenth or two of a second, I thought 'well I have another try, so don't fret, just warm up and get ready,'" Bilunas said. "Then I sprinted the first 50 of the 100-meter free to go for a split time on my second attempt. I touched the wall and saw that I missed the cut by a couple one hundredths of a second. I had to finish the 100, so I decided to just do an easy 50 to finish the race. During that easy 50, I thought 'dang Alex, you didn't make the cut. I guess you gave it your best effort and at least you go out of your swimming with a best time."

Although Bilunas climbed out of the water at the University of Michigan's Canham Natatorium on Feb. 21 thinking her college career was over, Nebraska Assistant Coach Patrick Rowan had other ideas. 

"Pat Rowan talked to the officials and then asked me if I wanted to try one more time after the meet. I decided, why not, third time's a charm. So I climbed up on the blocks and thought, 'Alex, no matter what, do not take a breath and do not be afraid of jamming a couple fingers,'" Bilunas said. "I dove the instant I heard the start horn. As I swam, I heard every person on deck cheering and truly felt the 'Husker Family' with me. As I saw the black T at the bottom of the pool appear, I remember thinking 'just touch the wall' then it was all over."

But it wasn't.

"As I lifted my head from the water, I heard the timer say, 'oh...shoot, I forgot to stop the clock.' Then I looked to see the timing system continuing to tick and thought, 'please let me get the cut, please!' So I just floated in the water waiting to see if the officials could go back to split times for the timing system to see if the split time was the trial cut. Sure enough, after about two minutes the officials were able to display the split, and I saw that I made the trial cut. 

"Instantly when I saw that trial pop on the board, I jumped and ran to my teammates crying for excitement. A goal of eight years was finally met."

For Nebraska Head Coach Pablo Morales, it was a remarkable culmination to Bilunas' journey as a Husker.

"It was really a great moment, a special memorable moment for all of us who witnessed it," Morales said. "Every person in that building was cheering as hard as they could for her. You could see people who didn't even know her, pumping their fists in the air and shouting when they finally determined that she achieved the cut. It was like a scene from a movie."

The drama of making the cut has only added to Bilunas' anticipation for her swim at the U.S. Trials.

"I could not be more excited to have my last swim in Omaha with the Olympians," Bilunas said. "It was great to look Pablo and Pat in the eyes that day and thank them, because I remember first meeting them and saying that I wanted to go to Trials, and they helped me achieve this goal."

Bilunas is now viewing her swim at the Trials more like a fitting end to an ambitious dream, and she is looking forward to celebrating it with everyone who helped her along the way.

"Since my parents weren't there to witness my trials cut, it was fun to give them that exciting call later on, saying 'don't worry, you didn't miss my last swim...I am headed back home to Omaha!,'" Bilunas said. "They have been very important in my swim career. My mom and dad drove me to countless 5:30 a.m. workouts and countless roadtrip/travel swim meets. They have been so proud and supportive of me. I could not have made it this far in life without them, and cannot express how thankful I am for their support."

Alexandra's sister Brianna also has played a huge role in her life. Brianna, who swam at the Naval Academy before graduating in 2014-15, provided constant support and a little competitiveness along the way.

"My sister and I are so close. We have always supported each other in anything we have done," Bilunas said. "Also, we have always pushed each other to be better. Not in a super-competitive way, but more in a sense of 'well if she can do that, I can do it too.' We hold each other to high standards. We always help each other reach our goals."

Bilunas also said the entire Nebraska program has served like another set of sisters.

"Husker swim and dive is really a great group of girls. I could not have asked to spend my time at Nebraska with anyone else," Bilunas said. "I love how the team works as a collective group, and we never let someone fall behind."

Along with her family and all the swimmers she has spent time with in and out of the water, Bilunas is looking forward to celebrating with all of her former coaches.

"I want to thank every coach I have ever had. You got me to where I am today, in and out of athletics. Pat and Pablo are the best coaches an athlete could ask for. They have encouraged me to pursue any goal I had, including dental school and Trials," Bilunas said. "Jeanie Neal swam at Nebraska and encouraged my love of swimming when I was just a little kid. She always made swimming fun and reminded me why I love the sport. Dan Haske, my high school coach, as well as Bob Henchal and Jared Sharman, who were assistant coaches - without their coaching and support at Duchesne Academy, I would not be where I am today."

Many others among the sold-out crowds at the CenturyLink Center will join Bilunas in her celebration at the U.S. Olympic Trials. For her and many others, Saturday, July 2 at the Trials will be filled with smiles.