Matt McManus' devotion to training producing big results

If good things happen to those who wait, even better things may result for those who follow their dreams with a passion.

Matt McManus, an 11-year-old St. Brendan School student and a member of the Mexico Area Family YMCA’s Marlins swim team, learned not long ago that his best efforts from the previous winter season had produced big results.

Among all 50 states who have YMCA swim competitions, an analysis of results showed McManus broke a pair of national records in the 50-yard breaststroke. Competing at that time in the boys age 9-10 division, he swam a 37.10 time at Hannibal, good to rank ninth in the nation, then a 35.11 clocking at DeKalb, Ill., good to rank first in the nation.

“Swimming is a hard sport,” he said, explaining the amount of time he puts in on a regular basis to be the best he can be. In the winter season, now under way, he practices in the YMCA pool from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. immediately after school. In the summer season, those hours run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for him.

Like many boys his age, McManus has tried his hand at many different sports over the years, but the YMCA pool is where he has made a home under the direction of his coaches, YMCA aquatics director Consuela Baum and his father, Matthias.

“I think I’m pretty suited for swimming. I think I’m good at it, but I also have to swim because I have mild asthma,” the younger McManus said. Swimming on a regular basis gives his lungs the workout they need, and “I use every single muscle in my body.

“But I really have to keep trying to do my best in practice and in meets,” he added. “It took long hours and lots of time to get where I am today.”

McManus has been a competitive swimmer since he was 5 or 6 years old, all as a member of the Mexico YMCA program. In a sense, he has been carrying on a family tradition.

“My sister swam here when I was little and I really wanted to do it too, so my mom and my sister helped me in practice. One day I tried out for the swim team and I made it,” he said.

“I’m really thankful for the YMCA and the community for making this opportunity possible for Matt and the other kids,” the elder McManus said. “We’ve had some tough times here the past seven or eight hard years because of the economic downturn, but people continue to support the YMCA.”

And because both father and son medaled at the 2008 Show-Me State Games in swimming, they will get to go to Colorado Springs next summer for the Mid-American Games and will have the opportunity to check out the U.S. Olympic Training Center in person.

Success usually follows people who have a passion about their sport and some day Matt would like to get a scholarship to swim in college. And athletes with a passion more often than not have heroes.

“When I was little, my sister was my hero, but then as I got older my hero was Michael Phelps. Now my hero is Brendan Hansen (another U.S. Olympian) because he’s so good in the same event I’m in.”

YMCA Executive Director Sherry Medley believes the program offers benefits for both individuals and families who don’t mind getting more than their feet wet.

“This is such an awesome program,” she said of the Marlins. “It’s so neat because the kids can compete against themselves as well as against other teams, but also because it involves the parents.

“It’s a great way for parents and their kids to spend more time together, to strengthen family connections and it gives parents another chance to be involved in what’s important to their children,” Medley said.

For more information about the Marlins or any of the other many activities offered by the YMCA for children and adults, call the YMCA at 581-1540.