Joe Smith, Local Sports, News, Sports, University

University’s McCutchan siblings have developed a deep passion for swimming

MORGANTOWN — University senior Jacqueline McCutchan owns five individual school records, but none of them were as exciting for her as her brother, Frankie, capturing his first this season.

“I’m a sprinter and he’s a distance swimmer, so I thought it was cool that we swim different events,” she said. “I don’t have the 500 record so I thought it was cool that he got that.”

Frankie, a freshman, is new to high school competition, but that didn’t stop him from following in his sister’s record-breaking footsteps, nabbing the top time in school history in the 500-freestyle during his first meet this year.

Of course, neither of the sibling’s skills should come as a surprise. Success in the pool is as synonymous with the McCutchan family name.

Frankie and Jacqueline’s mother and father both spent their collegiate years in the pool, competing for West Virginia. The McCutchan parents made sure to spread their love of the sport onto their children at a young age.

“Swimming has been a really big part of our lives. It’s not just really about a sport, but about meeting friends and a mental escape from our lives. It’s really healthy,” Jacqueline said. “Our parents really push us not just to swim fast, but to love swimming.”

According to Jacqueline, their parents’ experience has also benefited them competitively and the pair don’t take for granted all they’ve learned from them.

“They’ve offered us a lot of mental support, genetically they’ve supported us, and helping us through practice,” she said. “It’s a lot of hard work, but they’ve helped us through the challenges.”

Talent wins very few competitions alone, though, and both of the siblings’ success has come by applying what their parents have given them to the pool and combining it with hours of sacrifice and work.

“They [Frankie and Jacqueline] have dedication like you would not believe. They are in the pool before school, after school, late at night. They’re in the pool more than they are at home,” University coach Joanna White said. “They have excellent technique. They don’t do sloppy turns. Even when they’re not practicing hard, they have technique that is unbelievable. It’s been instilled in them since they were young.”

Frankie credits the amount of time that he and his sister have put into training as the key contributor to the successes the siblings have had as swimmers.

“Swimming is a very ‘what you put in is what you get out’ sport. We’ve put a lot of effort and work and time into the sport,” he said. “Because of our training and the pool time we get, it’s benefited us a lot.”

Jacqueline will look to finish her senior season strong before staying home to attend WVU — following in her parent’s path. Meanwhile, Frankie will look to live up to his sister’s achievements at University and keep the McCutchan legacy alive at the high school level.

“It’s a huge honor to be able to swim for WVU, and hopefully Frankie will be able to swim there in college. I just hope to be able to be a good team member,” Jacqueline said.

“Seeing her go fast makes me want to try harder, although since we are siblings we do have a little competitiveness,” Frankie added. “Seeing her progress as a swimmer and academically has encourage me to better myself, and I hope to continue what she’s built for me.”