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Date: 2/8/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW- The East Longmeadow Marlins, a recreational swim team for boys and girls ages 5-18, won the Pioneer Valley Swim League Championship, their first in-person championship since January of 2020.
“It felt fantastic,” said fourth grader Finleigh Lennon, who’s been with the Marlins for four seasons. “We had lots of training. Two to three times a week for several months before the championships. It was great having everyone cheer for us.”
The Marlins had in-person meets all winter, but it was the first time they had a championship in-person again since 2020. The event took place in two venues. The first day was on Jan. 21 at Minnechaug Regional High School, with ages 8 and under, and 9 to 10. The second day was on Jan. 22 at Springfield College with the 11- to 12-year-old swimmers in the morning and the 13- to 18-year-old swimmers in the afternoon. Seventh grader Tierney Chrusciel, who’s been on the team since the first grade, said, “It was quite terrifying, because I was part of last group that was going to be competing and it felt like there was a lot of pressure, but through the power of cheering we got through.”
“We were a little nervous going in,” said 12th grader Nicholas Carlone, who’s been swimming with the Marlins since he was little and helps out as a junior coach. “But after the first day the scores got released, we saw that we were up by quite a lot of points and we were all pretty excited, so we weren’t nervous going in the second day. Overall, it was exciting.”
He continued, “This is a great group of people. I love everyone there. The coaches, the swimmers and parents are amazing. We’re all just having fun competing.”
For decades, the Marlins have been swimming in the town of East Longmeadow. They compete in recreational swim leagues in the fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons. Head coach Cora Gauvin said, “Our philosophy at the Marlins is we’re all one big family. We’re here to support and grow each other as better swimmers, athletes, and human beings. I want kids to feel connected to who they are, where they’re from and that we’re all here to try to do something together.”
East Longmeadow resident Charles Gray has a long history with the Marlins. He swam for the team growing up and his father, Charlie Gray, was the head coach of the team for six seasons. Charles Gray coached for half of the 2018-19 season, was an assistant coach during the 2021-22 season, and president of the parent board in between those seasons. Now, he has three children that swim for the Marlins.
“It was great to watch my children as well as all the other children on the Marlins perform at their highest level and improve throughout the season especially improve at the championship meet,” Gray said. “It was a tremendously rewarding feeling for all the work that they’ve put in through the season paying off at the end. To see the love of the sport of swimming grow with these kids is incredibly special.”
Third grader Henry Gray has been with Marlins since he was six. He said he is really proud of himself and his team. Sixth grader Charlie Gray Jr., who’s been on the team since he was 8, said, “It feels good to know that we’re on top and I hope to be able to do it again next year.” He went on to say, “The best part of being on the team is making new friends and having fun. I love the meets and the practices. The coaches are really nice and encouraging.” Eighth grader Julia Gray, who’s been on the team for seven years, responded, “It feels amazing. All the things that we worked so hard for paid off.”
The Marlins had an undefeated season. This year Gauvin told Reminder Publishing it felt like a return back to a normal swim season. Last year, the team was still coming off of COVID-19. They had some virtual meets and then their camps ended up being virtual. The Pioneer Valley Swim League Championship was the end of the Marlins’ winter season. They usually do a two-week clinic in March. Then their spring-summer season begins in May and ends in July. They start meets either the end of May or beginning of June. In the meantime, the Marlins’ goals are to continue growing their team and the sport of swimming; to have more lessons, swim programs and swim clinics. Gauvin wants to encourage children to do that as much as they can not only in their program, but in general because the more children can see that swimming is a fun, life-long sport, it’s something they can take with them for the rest of their life.
To learn more, visit the Marlins’ website at eastlongmeadowmarlins.com.