When Rhonda Romano first heard the news that her daughter, Megan, had been diagnosed with mononucleosis, she says she became physically ill. Two weeks later, Megan is still feeling the effects of mono and Rhonda is still worried about her daughter’s health.

But one thing is four sure, Rhonda says: Megan is going to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, which start Sunday in Omaha, Neb.

“Come hell or high water, she’s going,” Rhonda said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s an opportunity she doesn’t want to miss.”

Romano, who will be a senior this fall at St. Petersburg Northeast High, has qualified for the trials in six events: 100- and 200-meter backstrokes and 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter freestyles. Rhonda says Megan will likely drop the longest event from that list, the 400 free, and wait to see how Megan feels during the trials to see how many other events she will attempt.

Her highest seed is in the 200 free, where she owns the No. 31 time in the field of 109 qualifiers at 2:00.98.

Because of the mono, Megan had to start her taper early for the trials and has been coming to practice later in the morning in order to get more rest. Rhonda said Megan will undergo more blood tests to see how well she is progressing in her fight with mono. Megan’s first event is slated for Monday with the prelims of the 100 back.

Other area trials qualifers included Robert Margalis of Clearwater and his little sister, Melanie, who swims for Countryside High, Seminole’s Kaitlin Frehling, Tampa Prep’s Chelsea Nauta, Mitch Snyder of Northeast, Tommy Wyher of Jesuit, Kelley Hug from the Academy of the Holy Names, Katie Coleman of Palm Harbor Universitry, Jason Taylor of Newsome and Brandon Blue Wave teammate J.P. Arnold.