Our Montpelier Marlin’s reached new heights this season — Literally!
We were at the end of our season, last meet, and the Marlins were 0-4. Our team needed a win badly for morale and the coaches knew the last meet with Cheverly was going to be close. The Marlins had the points to win if one of our key swimmers, Naomi Mills, made it to the July 9, meet. Unfortunately, she was getting ready to leave for camp in North Carolina early Saturday morning, and was planning on missing the meet to catch a long ride on the bus to Wilmington NC.
With some creative thinking, we approached one of our swim team parents to activate the Marlin Air Express! If we could arrange an airplane flight, Naomi could swim the meet and make it to camp on time the next day. As crazy as this idea sounds, Paul Buehler, Lynne Collman and Naomi’s parents, Jane and Charlie and our local neighborhood pilots all helped put the plan into action. To help cover the cost of fuel many of our parents willingly donated funds for fuel.
Voila! Naomi was now able to participate in Saturday’s dual meet with Cheverly. By winning all 3 of her individual events, and anchoring the girls relay team for a win, she added those last few critical points needed to give the Marlins a victory over Cheverly. The Marlin team went crazy over the win.. they had worked so hard this season and everyone was overwhelmed with joy.
Very early Sunday morning, with a few butterflies in her belly (she had never flown before), Naomi is whisked off to Tipton Airport at Fort Meade Maryland. Naomi then met her pilots, Brad Gimbert and Larry Branch. Larry owned a Piper Arrow, and Larry and Brad flew the plane often. Naomi and her mom, Jane, joined Larry and Brad and then took off for Wilmington, North Carolina where Naomi was due to spend a week at camp. Naomi even picked up the nick name at camp – “The Flying Marlin”! She commented that, “My trip was great – only 2 1⁄2 hours flying versus 10 hours on a bus! It made me realize how committed our team parents really are! Thank you!”
And, if this was not enough, Larry, Brad and Jane Mills refueled the plane in Wilmington and made it back to Maryland with enough time to help out at the Laurel Invitationals later in the evening.
This is why the Montpelier Marlin’s ROCK! We have great swimmers and creative parents who will literally reach any HEIGHT for the Team!
Go Marlins!
