ROCHELLE — Marianne Swanson has worked with the Rochelle Rays swim team for nearly three decades, and with over 40 years of total swimming experience under her belt, it’s no surprise the Rochelle program was able to pull together another successful season this summer.

Despite missing out on their first swim competition of the season due to poor weather, the Rays still swept all three of their opponents, taking down Genoa, Geneseo and Huntley for the first time in program history. Five Rays including Riley Wiegartz, Alison Ohlinger, Emma Kennay, Sydney Carmichael and Kendyl Darby combined to break five team records this summer, with Wiegartz setting three of those records.

“Our swimmers work hard and some of those records the kids broke have been up there for a long time,” Swanson said. “I think it’s been inspiring for all of our kids and it’s motivated our kids to push each other… The kids work hard. They’re up at 7:30 a.m. for practice and that takes a lot of dedication and commitment on their part.”

Over 100 swimmers suited up for the Rochelle Rays this summer, practicing for three hours during the week at Spring Lake Pool before regular hours. There are no tryouts for the Rays, which Swanson said has helped the program create an inclusive culture where every swimmer can participate.

“I’ve been asked many times why I don’t do tryouts, and it’s because I believe swimming is a sport that all kids should know how to do,” Swanson said. “I’ve coached many sports but swimming creates lifelong skills that people need to be successful. I enjoy teaching the little ones because you can instill a passion for swimming that sticks with the kids for the rest of their lives.”

Swanson began coaching swimming when she worked with the Norridge Marlins at age 20.  A former high school swimmer at Norridge and collegiate swimmer at Northern Illinois University, Swanson moved to Rochelle in 1979. The Rays were only a club team back then, and they swam at the Vagabond Inn.

The Rays began swimming at Spring Lake Pool when it was built in 1981, but it wasn’t until 1991 when Swanson was approached by a local parent about getting the team going after a few years of inactivity. Swanson helped speak with the local park district about the Rays becoming a park district team, and after the park district obliged, she began her tenure coaching the Rays.

“My passion has always been for swimming,” Swanson said. “I’ve loved swimming since I was a little kid. I’ve always enjoyed swimming, and part of the reason I stayed in Rochelle was because of Spring Lake Pool. If they didn’t build Spring Lake, I don’t know if I would still be around here.”