The Owensboro Magazine 2009

SPORTS & RECREATION In the Swim By Benjamin Hoak ooking for a competitive, non-contact sport that your child can participate in during the cold winter months? Try swimming. It’s becoming more popular in Owensboro, especially given the L Coach Jim Rogers offers a poolside word of encouragment to one of his swimmers. enormous success of Michael Phelps in the Olympics. “We benefited We from Michael Phelps,” said Jim Rogers, head coach of the Owensboro Marlins, the only USA Swimming approved club in town. Swimmers must be registered with USA Swimming to even practice with the group. Rogers said the Marlins include about 100 swimmers from age 5 to 18– up from 70 swimmers at this same time last year. Phelps made swimming look easy, but in reality, it’s a lot of work. Rogers, who has been involved with swimming for more than 30 years, said swimmers like competing against others, but in swimming more than in other sports, “It’s all about times. Bettering (your) time is a big motivator. You’re very much racing against yourself.” As a sport, swimming also offers a variety of levels for kids, from novice to advanced. The Marlins compete in two seasons – one from October to March and another in June and July, when members also swim for local club teams. Their home pool is at the Owensboro Medical Health System HealthPark. During the summer, a little more than 200 kids swim for three area club teams. Age ranges are similar to the Marlins – 4 and 5-year-olds up to 17 and 18-year-olds. The three teams include Atlantis Swim Club on Carter Road (on the west side of town), Owensboro Country Club on Byers Avenue (roughly in the center of town) and Splash Swim Club off Kentucky 54 (on the east side of town). Their season runs approximately from Memorial Day to July. The four area high schools – Apollo High School, Owensboro High School, Owensboro Catholic High School and Daviess County High School – also field swim teams. Rogers said about 170 to 180 kids are involved with the high school teams. Daviess County and Owensboro also have diving teams. Athletes dive from a one-meter diving board, which is regulation height for high school. Because swimming is a non-contact sport, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association allows middle schoolers to swim for their high school teams. Rogers said 20 to 25 area swimmers have gone on to swim in college over the last 10 years. Owensboro even had one swimmer who went to the Olympic trials, although she �� 22 OWENSBORO 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Owensboro Magazine 2009

The Owensboro 2009 From our Chair Contents Buffalo Trace Brings History to Owensboro Environmental Education Blooms in the Garden Owensboro Arts and Cultural Events Making the Grade Building Opportunity In the Swim Economic Development through Placemaking Sister Cities brings International Benefits Embracing Innovation to spur Economic Development Creating a Pool of Skilled Workers Expanding Transportation Options One-Stop Business Licensing Robot Doctor Building a Locally-Based Food Economy Welcome to the Neighborhood Luxury Living on the River Moving In Trendy Excursions Evolves with the Times The Crème Brews Comfort Downtown Growing with the Community Family Business Boasts Longevity, Good Barbecue Entrepreneurial Spirit Comes Home Capturing the Broadway Market Ministering to Church Leaders Community at-a-Glance By the Numbers Dining & Catering Guide Advertiser Index

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