Power and technique are two keys to Willard senior Marshall Swadley’s throwing success.
“If he’s on, they’re flying,” said Willard Throwing Coach Justin Harris.
Marshall’s throws have been flying far enough to bring him within striking distance of Willard’s school records.
“I honestly feel like I can beat both of them.,” Marshall said. “I feel shot [put] will come first but [discus] will definitely come later.”
But these aren’t just any school records. They’re both held by Marshall’s older brother Nate.
“It’s scary to see them go,” Nate said with a smile. “But if somebody is going to beat them I would prefer that it’s him that does it.”
These days, Nate throws for Missouri S&T. Yet, the brotherly rivalry still lives on.
“It would definitely make me happy if he broke them first but I don’t like to see them go either,” Nate said with a laugh.
“It’s still even competition and he’s not even throwing against me anymore,” Marshall added.
In some ways, it’s fitting that Marshall would challenge Nate’s records, as the older Swadley is the one who first found interest in the sport.
“He was the one who would throw broomsticks or heavy objects around the house,” Marshall said. “Sometimes, he would break our brooms so he could throw javelin, which was his first interest”
Over time, Nate’s interest became Marshall’s interest as well.
Having coached both of them Harris says it’s easy to tell they’re related.
“I could set their videos next to each other and show the similarities in the two brothers,” he said.
It shows how a connection between brothers can happen naturally. Just like the way Marshall may have learned from Nate.
“I’m sure [Nate] taught Marshall a lot without knowing it and I’m sure Marshall learned from [Nate] a lot without really knowing it,” Harris said.
While Marshall admits there is some pressure in trying to match Nate, he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“At the end of the day, there’s nobody I’d rather compete with four years later,” he said.
Either way, a Swadley’s name will still sit at the top of Willard’s all-time leader-board.
