A visit with former WPIAL swimming champion Andrea Marko


Background Info: Andrea Marko set her share of records at both Pitt's Trees Pool and at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium, but there is one she left that will never be broken. The Greensburg Central Catholic graduate is the only female swimmer in either classification ever to win the WPIAL 100-yard backstroke all four years. She twice set the WPIAL record in the event, with a 57.10 seconds as a sophomore in 2008 and a 56.42 her junior season in 2009. Ironically, she didn't win a state championship in the 100 backstroke. Marko won seven WPIAL individual titles in her career -- she also won three consecutive 100 butterfly crowns from 2008-10 -- and set the WPIAL record with a 55.72 her final year. She won her two state championships in 2008 and 2009 and set the PIAA Class 2A of 54.92 as a junior. Marko went to to swim at the University of Missouri, is married and is a nurse in St, Louis.

Andrea Marko on what stood out her WPIAL experience.
"I distinctly remember the atmosphere. It was a very motivating atmosphere, people were cheering and teams dressed up in their colors and things like that. It was a fun experience. You could not feel that great in warmups and, because of everyone cheering you on, it gave you that little bit more of a drive to reach your goal time. That's all I remember is the fun atmosphere, the positive attitude that everyone seemed to have."

Andrea Marko on her greatest high school accomplishment.
"I'd like to say that becoming a two-time state champ is a great accomplishment and, going along with that, having that state record for a little bit. But to be honest, I think that it was being in the tough races and even in years I didn't do so well, I just kept pulling through and I don;t think I ever finished below fifth place at states and making it to the podium no matter what race I was in."

Andrea Marko on her fondest memory of Trees Pool.
"The cold water. I don;t know why, but jumping into that cold water automatically gave you that great speed you wanted. That will always be my favorite pool, no matter what."