CLINTON — Clinton Otters have had some excellent swimmers and teams over the years, but an Otters team had never won a state competition banner before.  But now, Clinton YMCA can say Otters have taken not just one state banner but three.

Head swim coach Josh Gibson hosted an awards ceremony on Tuesday evening to show off the banners to parents and fans and talk about his pride in a team that achieved much this season.

Gibson and assistant coach Claire Diener stood with swimmers as they unfurled the three banners the team won this past weekend at the Illinois YMCA State Swim Meet.  Otters received second place banners for boys’ small team and small team overall and a champion banner for girls’ small team.

“From day one, the message here was we are a team and we act as a team,” Gibson said. 

He said it was important to highlight the individual swimmer successes but most important that the Otters were a team.

“But, we cannot do anything unless we work together as a team,” Gibson said.  “I think we accomplished that this year.”

The team picked up accolades all season long as evidenced in trophies received in meets in places like Galesburg and Mattoon. 

Gibson said the swimmer spent “enormous amounts of time” getting to know one another and encouraging one another.  He said some swimmers who didn’t qualify for state competition until the last minute benefitted from the encouragement they received from the rest of the team.

“They do a lot for each other, and it’s important for me to see; they actually have to do the work.”

In fact, Gibson said he felt team work among the Otters counted more toward their successes even than his own coaching.

“We’re really proud of that.”

Claire Diener’s mother, Clinton Elementary School principal Mary Diener, attended the Tuesday event as well as former Otters coach Phil Donelson.