MOUNT VERNON — Marshall Smith
is one of the top swimmers in the state. He’s competed in and won at regional
meets. In his most recent event, he took home no fewer than six medals.
And he’s only 10 years old.
Smith is competing in this weekend’s Ohio Junior Olympics, in an event
called the 2011 Short Course State Championship at Bowling Green State University.
“I hope I do great,” Smith said. “I’ve been doing great
in each meet, and I’ve been doing good in the past practices.”
Smith has been swimming for three years. He said he got the idea to swim at a
competitive level from his older brother, Paul Smith Jr., who’s a freshman
at Mount Vernon High School.
“My brother started swimming and it looked like fun,” Smith said. “So
I tried it. I really got into it.”
This weekend, Smith will be competing in two events, the 200-meter medley relay
and the 200-meter free relay. In the medley, he’ll be doing his specialty — the
butterfly.
“A lot of coaches will use the butterfly as a punishment,” Smith’s
mom, Jill, said. “He wants to do it. He looks forward to the butterfly.”
“I like the power strokes,” Marshall said. “I just like doing
it. It’s easy for me.”
Marshall dominates in the pool. At the latest regional meet, he competed in seven
events — and qualified for medals in six of them.
Marshall’s team gets together in Mansfield to practice. The team is a satellite
of the Greater Columbus Swim Team of Ohio. The Mansfield group, consisting of
60 to 70 swimmers, meets with head coach J.B. Ballenger four to five times a
week. Marshall’s teammates range in age from 6 to 19, some of whom are
swimming novices while others have ultimate dreams of the Olympics.
For the full story, click here for the March 9, 2011 e-edition
