Homewood-Flossmoor junior Gabi Cipriano is more than a well-rounded swimmer.
She's looking for a return trip to state in the 200-yard individual medley, and her H-F teammates will compete in today's Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional. Several Vikings have a chance to make it to the state meet at New Trier.
Cipriano has excelled in the pool, but she has done quite nicely in other extracurricular events. She has won awards in Mathletes, including a SouthWest Suburban Blue all-conference award. Cipriano, a member of National Honor Society, is on the Model United Nations Club at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
At her first Model United Nations Conference, she received honorable mention for exemplary representation of Poland in the European Union. She was part of a two-member team.
Not your average teen.
"The Model U.N. makes you interact with other students from other high schools, and you have to present your view," she said. "You represent a different country, and you have to research and discuss how world events affect the country you represent. You discuss and debate, and you are doing it from that country's point of view."
It also helps the students to learn about world affairs and different cultures.
"You do get a chance to really learn about a country, and that is just great," Cipriano said. "This helps you with public speaking because you have to get up in front of a group, be prepared, and give your speech and point of view.
"I think it helps socially and in class, like speech and English, too, because you learn to speak up."
Cipriano and her teammates will be prepared for today's meet.
She is part of the Vikings' medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. She also will compete in the 100 butterfly.
"We have a good chance in the relays," Cipriano said. "The 'fly ... that is something new because I used to swim the 500 free. I think I made the adjustment with my taper for the 100 fly."
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