WALLINGFORD - First they learned to crawl together. Now they're competing in swimming championships together.

Twelve-year-old twin sisters Holly and Brittany Driscoll have been swimming since they were 6 years old. Last weekend, the pair went to the 2009 YMCA Long Course National Championships in College Park, Md.

It's the first time in 12 years that the Wallingford YMCA swim team, the Dolphins, has sent swimmers to the national meet, said YMCA Aquatics Coordinator Keith Cargan. Holly and Brittany came in 95th of 143 and 145th of 165, respectively, but they were up against swimmers into their late teens. The competition is open to swimmers 12 to 21 years old.

The two are set to leave today for USA Swimming's Eastern Zone meet at Penn State University, where they will only compete against other 12-year-olds.

The girls have just "always loved the water," said their mother, Karen Driscoll. Brittany and Holly, the oldest of four children, keep each other motivated, she said. "They're actually a great support team for each other."

On Monday, Holly and Brittany swam back and forth within the laned section of Community Pool at the direction of coach Tina Naser. The two are on a tapered practice schedule to prepare for competition.

"They're progressing at an astonishing rate," said Naser, who has been coaching them the last two years. "I tell them, when they get out onto a pool deck, there isn't anyone they can't beat."

The two girls practice for two to two and a half hours a day four times a week and said they hope to get to the Olympics. The practice can be exhausting at times, they said.

"We love it but we get a lot of sleep at night," said Brittany, who swims freestyle.

Holly, who specializes in the breaststroke, said she and her sister became hooked on swimming after taking lessons at the local YMCA. A coach eventually asked them to join the team.

The two Dag Hammarskjold Middle School students also take part in a number of other activities, such as music, but swimming seems to be at the forefront. Holly plays the flute, Brittany the violin.

"We ski, we run, but mostly we swim," Holly said.

Naser has committed herself to the girls' success, coordinating with their mother to put in extra hours to work with them exclusively. She didn't go easy on them at Community Pool Monday.

"Finish strong like you're actually in a race!" she called out.

Cargan said the two girls have created a lot of excitement for bringing the Dolphins back to the national championship. Other local Ys have sent swimmers there more recently, including one from Southington last year and 26 from Cheshire this year.

Cargan said the girls are obviously committed.

"They make sure that when they're at practice they don't just go through the motions," he said. "They have a quality practice."

The Driscolls are no strangers to water. Holly and Brittany's father, Mark, swam competitively in high school and volunteers to coach for USA Swimming. Their brother and sister, Robert, 11, and Kristina, 8, also swim competitively.

gmoore@record-journal.com

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