Marlins Seize Olympic Inspiration 8/6/12
By: Scott Leber
Updated: August 6, 2012
Rockford, Illinois-There's no better source of motivation for local athletes than to watch the Olympic Games, especially in the sport of swimming where the USA has dominated. Members of the Rockford Marlins Swim Club have been glued to the action.
"Every time there's an Olympic year you look at those people that are on top and be like, 'I really want to be there some day."
Those are the words of 16 year old Marlins' swimmer Olivia Cacciatore. She's one of 85 swimmers currently registered in the Marlins Club. They often practice twice a day, six days a week. It's a little easier to do that when they get caught up in the Olympic spirit.
"You see people work hard and you see hard work pays off," said 17 year old Marlins swimmer Courtney Gray. "That kind of makes you want to come out and work a little bit harder."
The Marlins have just finished up their spring/summer season. They finished 29th out of 72 teams at the Illinois Senior Championships, and they also did well at the Speedo Sectionals in Iowa where they competed against many college swimmers.
"To this point we've had the most success as a team we've ever had," said Marlins Coach Luke Towry.
17 year old Jack Tribble quialified for Junior Nationals in the 200 backstroke. He knows what it takes to be a top swimmer.
"You have to have talent, but the main thing is desire," said Tribble. "If you don't have the desire to get in the pool every morning and every afternoon you're not going to be able to swim fast."
"You really have to have the heart for it," said Cacciatore. "You can't swim and hate it. You have to swim and love it."
That's why the Marlins coaches also want their swimmers to fall in love with the Olympics.
"They get to see people compete really hard, and they get to see the fruits of their labor," said Towry. "Every one of these swimmers still has a little bit of a dream in them that they can do this."
"Every time there's an Olympic year you look at those people that are on top and be like, 'I really want to be there some day."
Those are the words of 16 year old Marlins' swimmer Olivia Cacciatore. She's one of 85 swimmers currently registered in the Marlins Club. They often practice twice a day, six days a week. It's a little easier to do that when they get caught up in the Olympic spirit.
"You see people work hard and you see hard work pays off," said 17 year old Marlins swimmer Courtney Gray. "That kind of makes you want to come out and work a little bit harder."
The Marlins have just finished up their spring/summer season. They finished 29th out of 72 teams at the Illinois Senior Championships, and they also did well at the Speedo Sectionals in Iowa where they competed against many college swimmers.
"To this point we've had the most success as a team we've ever had," said Marlins Coach Luke Towry.
17 year old Jack Tribble quialified for Junior Nationals in the 200 backstroke. He knows what it takes to be a top swimmer.
"You have to have talent, but the main thing is desire," said Tribble. "If you don't have the desire to get in the pool every morning and every afternoon you're not going to be able to swim fast."
"You really have to have the heart for it," said Cacciatore. "You can't swim and hate it. You have to swim and love it."
That's why the Marlins coaches also want their swimmers to fall in love with the Olympics.
"They get to see people compete really hard, and they get to see the fruits of their labor," said Towry. "Every one of these swimmers still has a little bit of a dream in them that they can do this."
