“I remember when I was in swim sectionals at York High School and he gave me a talk that inspired me to get my best time in the 50-yard freestyle,” Morton swimmer Cash Freeman said. This is just one of the many great things that Coach Gourley has done for his swimmers. Scott Gourley is a student counselor, swimming, and water polo coach here at Morton district 201, and has been a part of the Morton family for 25 years.

“What do you hope to take away from all of this when its all over?” I asked Coach Gourley. ” I hope that we have provided an opportunity for students to learn a life skill that swimming is. It’s something that they can continue on for the rest of their life. [The coaches] have been able to work with some tremendous young adults, who have gained an opportunity to be part of a team, to work with others, to overcome challenges, and that will hopefully allow them to transfer those skills, and challenges they have overcome later on in their life,” Gourley replied.

For Gourley, the most important part of this whole journey is the student-athletes he has coached throughout the years.

I had the pleasure to speak with one of his current athletes senior Braeden Cash Freeman, he is a swimmer, water polo player, and leader in and out of the water. Braeden has been in the team for three and a half years, and this is what he had to say, “Gourley has taught me to be more hard working, stay consistent, and always give it my all not only in the water but in life as well.” This shows how much Gourley cares about his athletes not only in the sport but out of it as well. The impact that Coach Gourley has had and will continue to have in his athletes’ lives is meaningful, and we are lucky to have him.