Since age 7, Marie Stockton had been a swimmer in the Munster Seahorses age group. Then, when she was in middle school, she decided to hang it up.

"I was never really sure exactly why I quit," Stockton said. "I guess I just needed a break."

When she watched her older sister,Lindsey, swim at state for Highland a few years later, she realized the break was over.

"Seeing Lindsey swim in Indianapolis got my competitive juices going again," Stockton said. "I realized just how much I missed the excitement that comes with competitive swimming. And I realized how much I wanted a shot at making it to state."

As a freshman Trojan last year, Stockton made her claim to both the 100 breastroke and the 200 IM.

"Marie improved steadily all year long," coach Ryan Harrington said, "but she really broke through at the (NCC) conference meet, then again at sectionals."

Stockton was ranked No. 15 at conference but took third place with a personal best of 1:14 in the breaststroke. She then turned around in the 200 IM and finished in the top eight after coming in ranked 23rd.

"I was really excited to do so well at a big meet like that," Stockton said. "I surprised myself. You always hope to do good when there is a lot of tough competition, but I did even better than I hoped."

Stockton will see many of the same competitors she will face at both conference and sectional this Saturday at the annual Highland Invite.

"This will be a good measuring stick," Stockton said. "I'd like to get better times than I did last year, and I'd like to finish higher. This will be a good opportunity to see how far I have progressed."

If hard work and dedication are any indicators, Stockton should have a good meet.

"Marie is an incredibly hard worker in the water," Harrington said. "She comes early and stays late. She sets a great example of what it takes to go the extra mile."

Harrington also said Stockton had the mental aspect of swimming on her side.

"Marie is very smart; she gets it," Harrington said. "There is a whole mental part that goes along with the physical part of swimming. Marie understands that, and it helps her get the most out of her talents."

With six of the Times Top Ten swim teams at the invite, the competition will be fierce. But Stockton feels she is ready.

"We have all been working very hard during Christmas break," she said. "Time to see how all of that work paid off."