Winter snowfalls, icy conditions, and frigid temperatures are recent topics of conversation in the local area. Yet, one Morrison, IL, college senior escaped it all for 11 days, swimming with teammates in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Rachael Barry, daughter of Linda Brandon, Morrison, traveled 2132 miles to use the tropical venue of Albergue Olimpico, in southeast Puerto Rico, for an intensive training session over the holidays. The Southern Illinois University Swim Team visits this former Olympic pool every other year, so this was Barry’s second experience of “winter” temperatures in the low-80’s.
The training session was from Monday, December 30, 2013, through Thursday, January 9, 2014. Barry stated, “The school pays [our] room and board only.” Athletes pay their own airfare. “There are 23 girls that went to Puerto Rico, and three divers went to Vancouver, Canada. I’m the one in the top row, on the far left.”
Barry swims in the Missouri Valley Conference against women’s teams in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The sport maintains a six-month season from September through February. On Saturday, January 18, and Sunday, January 19, her team will compete in Little Rock, AR. The MVC Swimming & Diving Championship will be held in Carbondale, IL, at the SIU campus, from Thursday, February 13, through Saturday, February 15. This recent training in Puerto Rico will likely give the SIU women an edge.
Barry is a 2009 Morrison High School graduate who swims sprints-freestyle and butterfly. She recalled swimming one year for the youth Seahorse Club. She has been on the University’s swim team for four years.
“I was a walk-on my first year, but I earned a scholarship after the first season.” She continued receiving this financial honor for three years.
“I have so much pride in my team. I love everything down here!”