By John Gunther
Coos Bay 'The World' Staff Writer
COOS BAY — Shaylyn Brownell will live out her dream of swimming in college after signing a letter of intent Thursday to compete for Cal State East Bay.
Brownell finished a decorated career at Marshfield High School this winter with two individual school records, as well as a spot on a record-setting relay team for the Pirates.
“She’s had a great, great career at Marshfield,” said Pirate Kathe McNutt, Brownell’s coach since she started club swimming as a 4-year-old. “She will make an impact at East Bay right away, but she is ready for so much growth.”
Brownell said the school in Hayward, Calif., not far from Oakland, had a couple of big draws.
“The coach is real nice,” she said. “He made me feel right at home. And the girls made me feel right at home.”
Plus, the Pioneers use an outdoor pool, just like Marshfield.
“She will feel right at home,” McNutt said.
Cal State East Bay is an NCAA Division II school. Brownell chose it over Fresno-Pacific and said she also considered Oregon State University.
Brownell likely will focus on her two best events, the breaststroke and the individual medley, though in college the distances for those races can double. She’s looking forward to that.
“The 200 breaststroke is my favorite event,” Brownell said.
Like her coach at Marshfield, her parents are excited about her potential in the pool.
“The best thing is to see what she can do at the next level,” said Matt Brownell, her father. “It’s going to be fun. She really wanted to swim in college.”
“I’m excited to see her further her education,” he added.
“They have a real good nursing program,” Shaylyn Brownell said of her planned major.
Brownell followed in the footsteps of her sister, Kaley, first as a member of the Gold Coast Swim Team and then with the Pirates — Kaley graduated in 2007.
The family has been a fixture at the Mingus Park Pool for two decades.
“It’s been a long time at that pool,” Shaylyn’s mom, Connie, said. “My house smells like chlorine for 20 years, towels and swim suits hanging over every door knob.”
Others who attended her signing ceremony Thursday thanked her for her dedication and how she inspired the other swimmers, from high schoolers down to the youngest kids on the club team.
“I want to thank you for being a great role model,” said Grace Knutsen, who began her own swimming career at Mingus Park and is now one of the top club swimmers in the state for her age group.
Despite the extreme dedication of swimming, including practice twice daily during the winter, Brownell always has kept a joyful attitude.
“I’ve never had to force her to go to swim practice,” Matt Brownell said. “She always wanted to go. She likes to swim.”