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Q-C swimmers ready to make most of surprise state trips
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By Chris Steele, chrissteele@qconline.com
By Chris Steele, chrissteele@qconline.com
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Adversity tests more than just the physical tools of an athlete. It's a combination of determination, mental toughness and heart that ultimately define what separates the best. During this high school swim season, Moline's Allison Patch and Rock Island's Kelly Bishop had their passions tested in the water. During the Rock Island Sectional, both senior swimmers emerged strengthened by their wins and stand ready to face their final test at the state meet today. While Patch and Bishop have been two of the elite swimmers in the Western Big 6 over the past four seasons, this season's state trip came as a surprise for both. Patch had been struggling with scoliosis this season and suffered a flareup just a week prior to sectionals at the Western Big 6 meet. "It has made me more susceptible to getting strains in my back," Patch said. "Having to use those fast-twitch muscles in my back for the starts, kicking and sprints irritate my back." Patch wouldn't be slowed at sectionals, though, swimming a season-best time on her way to a state berth in the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.01). Patch has used about every available measure to alleviate the pain, including massages, bio-freeze and muscle relaxers, but never gave up on the sport. "You do whatever it takes to get what you want," Patch said. "This is something that I've been looking forward to ever since I watched Bryce Bohman, Alexa Harris in 2009. I've looked up to all of these swimmers, and I've always wanted to be a part of that legacy, so a little scoliosis is not going to hold me back." Patch was excited to represent Moline, the Western Big 6 and longtime friend and teammate Brianna Hutchings, who missed this season with a shoulder injury. Bishop, who had missed time in the pool earlier this season, came down with a fever of 104 degrees just a few days prior to her sectional swim. Her hopes seemed bleak, but somehow Bishop managed to burn up the water at the Rock Island pool and had her best swim of the season (59.62) to win the 100 butterfly. The emotion came flooding out of Bishop, who couldn't believe her own performance. "It's like the whole world is spinning," Bishop said. "I can't get a grip on anything, and I know that I'm prouder than I've ever been before." At the state meet, both Patch and Bishop come in as underdogs. Yet after a season of overcoming obstacles, the duo look to buck the odds one more time. 
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Today is Saturday, May 18, the 138th day of 2013. There are 227 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: A large variety of children's wagons and gigs have arrived in thecity and are being sold at war prices.
1888 -- 125 years ago: All Rock Island retail houses, with the exception of a clothingstore and a jewelry store, have agreed to early closing hours during the summer months.The store will be closed at 8 p.m.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Baseball enthusiasts in Rock Island are attempting to raise$20,000 to keep the Island City Park open, despite the fact that the city has no franchise inorganized baseball this year.
1938 -- 75 years ago: The organization of a third rural young people's unit will beundertaken tomorrow night at the Milan Presbyterian Church, with Mrs. Mildred K.Wellman, home advisor, and Robert Smith, county farm adviser in charge.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Deere & Co. will begin a "big switch" on its telephone systemMonday morning. The extension numbers of all 1,600 telephones on the firm's EastMoline and Moline exchanges will be changed Monday morning.
1988 -- 25 years ago: East Moline's June Jamboree VI -- Nostalgia Days, will seemlike a '60s revival with the appearance of stars like Bobby Vee, Freddie Cannon, PeterNoone, Turtles, The Grass Roots and Lou Christie. This year's festival has beenexpanded to five days, June 22-26, at the Northeast Park complex.
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