Brothers on Prospect swim team cheer each other on

Prospect High School's boys swim team heads into this weekend's sectional competition coming off winning the Mid Suburban League East title for the third time in four years.

Head Coach Alfonso Lopez figures the school may have some state contenders in a group that includes the three Rodriguez brothers from Mount Prospect — senior Ethan, junior Cameron and freshman Aidan — who quietly lead by example.

“There definitely is some family competition between the three brothers, but I see them supporting each other more than competing to beat each other — and that definitely spreads to the other swimmers on the team,” says Lopez, a Prospect graduate and former state qualifier now in his eighth year coaching at the school.

In fact, ask the three brothers whether they are competitive with one another and you get a resounding, “Yes.”

“I don't want him to beat me,” quips Cameron pointing to his younger brother, Aidan.

Yet, in the same breath, Cameron adds that they are there, day in and day out, to support one another.

“It's nice to be able to cheer one another on and see each other do well,” Cameron adds. “When Ethan broke a minute in the fly against Rolling Meadows, we were there to see it firsthand. It was a huge milestone for him.”

It turns out all three brothers like to swim the butterfly and the individual medley, and it all started with Olympic record holder Michael Phelps.

Ethan recalls watching Phelps win four gold medals during the 2012 games in London, including two for his individual performances in the individual medley and butterfly, as well as two relay events.

“I watched as many races as I could,” says Ethan, who started his freshman year one year later.

Ethan suffered a shoulder injury during his first meet at Prospect while competing in the butterfly, but he worked through nearly two years of physical therapy to come back.

“It was my goal to swim it again by junior year,” he says.

He now is one of the fastest flyers on the team, and with his brother Cameron, will be competing in the fly at sectionals. Aidan expects to be an alternate, but he could fill an open spot.

The brothers also credit their mother, Bridget McGehee Rodriguez, for involving them in swimming. She swam competitively at Rosary High School in Aurora, whose Beads won state again this last year, and her brothers swam at Marmion Academy.

Bridget Rodriguez also influenced her sons to take up music. All three began playing the violin in fourth grade, while living in Hudson, Wisconsin, and they now play in Prospect's symphony and orchestra program.

Ethan plays violin in Prospect's symphony, while Cameron is its principal violist and Aidan is the principal violist in the chamber orchestra.

Not surprisingly, they all see a similarity between their involvement in orchestra and swimming.

“It takes dedication,” Cameron says. “If you want to be good, you have to be dedicated — and practice.”

His brothers agree, almost finishing his sentence.

“It's the repetition,” Aidan adds. “To learn how to become more proficient, you have to practice over and over again.”

That sort of work ethic — in music and swimming — pleases their swim coach, who often looks to them to lead their respective lanes in practice.

“They are confident, but humble in their approach to the sport,” Lopez says. “They are a microcosm of what we like to think of our swim team — as family, and more so as brothers.”