New coach is one of the group

Steve Franklin is first-hand proof to his young Gator swimmers that the sport can last a lifetime.

Franklin, 46, who became the Gator Swim Team coach seven weeks ago, still competes in the sport he came into at a young age. He swims around the country in masters events and is ranked nationally in several events.

"I try to keep active so I can relate to the swimmers and they can relate to me," Franklin said. "They can't gripe about what I'm doing since I'm doing the same thing, because we train hard."

Franklin recently moved to the area from Nashville, Tenn., after serving as coach of the Natators of Tennessee for nearly four years. That followed coaching stints in Oregon, Atlanta and Indiana, which form 27 years of coaching experience for the former Indiana State swimmer.

He's returned to competitive swimming three years ago.

"I took almost 17 years off," Franklin said. "I was still coaching. I just wasn't swimming."

What got the competitive juices flowing to the point where he's ranked in the top five in the nation in the 45-49 age group in the 100 IM and top 10 in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle?

"The masters team I coached needed someone for the relay," Franklin recalled. "I wasn't happy with how it turned out so I started training again. Once I got back into it, it was like riding a bike. Once I got into it again I wanted to do it the best I could."

He's returned to the form of his all-state days at Warsaw Community High School in Warsaw, Ind.

"I always kind of stayed in shape," Franklin said. "I'm as fast as I was in high school, but not as fast as college."

His coaching hasn't been bad, either. In Roseburg, Ore., he coached Chris Thompson, who now holds the U.S. record in the mile. His Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta was among the premier teams in the country.

Since arriving in Cape Girardeau, Franklin has resuscitated a masters program at Central Municipal Pool, where 10 individuals -- over age 19 -- already participate.

But his main focus is on the Gators, who range from age 5 to 18.

"The kids are swimming hard for me," he said. "They've taken to changes I've made without hesitating. I'm anxious to get them in a meet."

That opportunity will present itself in a three-day meet that begins Friday in Nashville.

The Gator program currently has 50 to 60 youths involved, which he expects to grow to about 80 during the winter months.

He said he hopes to double the program's size over the next two years to about 150 members.

"My main objective is get the kids in shape, but we need to get some team growth," Franklin said. "Growth is good. We cater to the athlete that is less skilled, along with the athlete that is higher skilled. We try not to focus on just good kids, because you never know who's going to be a diamond in the rough. In my eyes they're all diamonds in the rough."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124