Kathi McGoldrick of Seal Beach is proud of all three of her daughters, Katie the oldest, Tori and Sydney, the youngest.
However, it’s her middle child, Tori Tripoli, that is getting her attention at the moment and whose story she hopes may inspire other young women to pursue their dreams and make history.
Last week, in Pensacola, Fla., Tori, who was a water polo player in high school, graduated as the 50th woman in the history of the U.S. Navy as an air rescue swimmer. “This is a huge accomplishment that took a lot of training and intense dedication,” McGoldrick said. “She is the only one from her division in boot camp to make it through the program and only nine graduated and she was the only woman.”
“I’ve always told my girls that they can do anything they set their minds to,” McGoldrick said. “Seeing them achieve their dreams and make a difference in this world is my greatest pride and joy. I don’t have the words to express the overwhelming feeling of pride and happiness inside me.”
According to McGoldrick, the first woman to graduate as an air rescue swimmer graduated in 1983. Therefore, only 50 women in almost 30 years have made it through the physically, mentally and emotionally grueling program.
“The commanding officer told Tori when she graduated that someone asked him if they lowered the requirements for women and he said ‘absolutely not’,” McGoldrick said. “He then said this is a great accomplishment.”
Tori Tripoli had to train for six months with the Special Forces candidates, including Navy Seal candidates, before she could enter boot camp as a Special Forces air rescue swimmer candidate.
McGoldrick said Tori’s motto going through the program was, “the task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you.”
“I guess it worked,” he mother said.
McGoldrick is a member of the Seal Beach Lions Club. She moved to Seal Beach in 2010 and Tori trained with the Los Alamitos High School water polo team before her senior year but she stayed at Pasadena High School where she was attending for her senior year. Her daughter Sydney Tripoli has attended McAuliffe Middle School since sixth-grade and is now is in the eighth-grade.
Tori is fairly well known by the water polo girls in the area as she always made different teams in the Southern section CIF.
McGoldrick has an insurance brokerage, McSweeny Insurance & Financial Services, in Seal Beach and has several local clients.
“Many of our friends and my daughter Sydney’s friends have been following Tori’s progress through this training,” McGoldrick said. “My oldest daughter Katie is also in the Navy.”
