Henson YMCA swimmers headed to national meet
Lindsay Mooney’s days as a member of the Henson Family YMCA Swim Team are quickly coming to an end.
Starting next fall, Mooney, a senior at Parkside High School, will head to Bloomsburg University to compete against some of the top swimmers in the country at the collegiate level.
Unlike Mooney, Mardela freshman Cameron Horner still has multiple years ahead of competing for the Henson YMCA. Horner, 14, scored 86 points and finished second in both the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke in the Maryland 14 & Under State Championships on March 2.
Though four years separates the two swimmers, one thing the duo has in common is a trip to Greensboro, North Carolina, to compete in the 2017 YMCA Short Course Nationals from April 3-7. Following strong performances in the winter championship meets, Mooney and Horner qualified for a combined six individual events and five bonus events on the national stage.
Mooney will compete in the 100-yard freestyle and the 50-yard backstroke, while Horner looks to continue her success in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke categories. Both will take part in the 200-yard freestyle.
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“It’s been hard work and determination that got us here,” Mooney said. “Even the people in the pool who didn’t make it helped get us here. It’s been a mix of group effort and our own personal desire.”
"We pushed each other"
More than 1,500 swimmers made the trip to North Carolina fighting for a chance to be dubbed one of the best swimmers in the country. College scholarships, future competitions and basic bragging rights could depend on how an athlete performs under the most intense pressure.
But for Mooney and Horner, while they hope to come out victorious in their respective competitions, the two have an equal amount of desire to see the other succeed before focusing on their own accolades.
As training partners and best friends on the team, glory for the other is just as important as glory for themselves.
“When (Horner found out she had made it to nationals) I was in class and screamed and the whole class stopped,” Mooney said. “I’m so excited to share it with one of my best friends. We pushed each other to get here, and now we’re going in with some fire.”
Dependability on one another has been important in Mooney's and Horner’s ability to get to the next level, but the two are quick to admit had it not been for their coach, Melissa Williams, the journey to nationals may not have been as easy to achieve.
“Even when we think we can’t do it, she pushes us to go farther,” Horner said. “She comes at 4 in the morning just for us, and it’s just ridiculous how much work she puts in for this team.”
Williams, a former competitive swimmer with three appearances at the national level, credited Mooney's and Horner’s success to the hard work put in at practice and eagerness to take in information from any outlet to which they have access.
"Staying positive"
As a coach, Williams looks for a player’s attitude during the smallest moments to determine their ability to grow as an athlete. Though the physical presence in the pool is a major factor, the mental aspect means much more in Williams’ eyes.
“At the beginning they weren’t too sure of themselves, but through constant encouragement from each other, as well as the other swimmers in the pool, it really has contributed to how well they’ve done,” Williams said. “Staying positive and letting them know just because we’re from Salisbury doesn’t mean we can’t compete with anyone in the world.”
Mooney’s attitude holds higher esteem than most players given her leadership role at the YMCA. As a college commit with years of experience on the team, Mooney is looked up to by many of the younger swimmers — some 10 years her junior.
“She’s kind of opened my eyes and always talks to me about keeping it up and going steady throughout the year,” Horner said. “It’s her senior year, so we’re all supporting her as she goes out in the world.”
At just 14, Williams considers Horner a leader in and out of the pool much like Mooney. Despite her young age, Horner’s maturity is something her coach has noticed since her early days as a swimmer.
Sitting atop the 14 & Under category, Horner, much like Mooney, has an entire group of swimmers training to attain the success they’ve seen from their fellow teammate.
“One thing I’ve noticed is once one starts achieving finals, it’s a trickle-down effect,” Williams said. “Her success is a motivator for those who want to get to that next level.”
With Bloomsburg in Mooney’s sights and Horner focusing on solid performances over the next three years of her high school career, the duo of swimmers will have different agendas going forward come the end of their national trip.
But win or lose, both Mooney and Horner believe their work in the pool through the years will not be measured by the number of awards brought in, but the knowledge and impact their partnership left behind.
“It’s going to be different, but I’m excited. There’s a lot of great swimmers here, and they’ve helped us get here,” Mooney said. “Hopefully we helped them a little, too.”