Illinois College’s Oak Wattanasirakul Follows Grandfather’s Footsteps in Move From Thailand

Oak Wattanasirakul

By Taylor Brien, Swimming World College Intern

JACKSONVILLE— Most students choose to move a few hours away from home to attend school, but Illinois College freshman Oak Wattanasirakul chose to move halfway across the globe from Thailand when he decided to attend Illinois College.

Wattanasirakul, the top breaststroker for the Blueboys, chose IC so that he could follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. His grandfather studied pre-med at IC back in the 1950s, and now Wattanasirakul plans to do the same.

Oak Wattanasirakul

Photo Courtesy: Oak Wattanasirakul

 

Despite this connection to IC, this is Wattanasirakul’s first time being in the United States. When asked about some of the cultural differences between the United States and Thailand, he responded, “people here are very nice, but sometimes too nice. Americans are very open about everything, and I’m faced with the expectation to be open as well.”

Despite the cultural differences Wattanasirakul has been able to make connections with his teammates and form lasting friendships.

“Having Oak on the team gives me a perspective of a different culture and what goes on in another country since I have never left the United States,” teammate Kaitlyn Flachs said.

Swimming not only creates long lasting friendships but has also helped Wattanasirakul to be more disciplined.

“Swimming has taught me how to manage my time and have a strict discipline,” Wattanasirakul said. In high school, Wattanasirakul frequently missed classes due to swim meets, but this only caused him to work harder, borrowing his classmates’ notes and learning the material so as not to fall behind.

His hard work paid off and he graduated with honors while also qualifying for Thailand’s National Youth Team, giving him the opportunity to compete in various national and international meets. Wattanasirakul was also ranked among the Top Five in Thailand this past year.

Comparing his training in Thailand to his training here at IC, Wattanasirakul noted that the emphasis here is more on technique, while back home the focus was on endurance and stamina. In conjunction with focusing more on his technique in practice, he notes that having a meet every weekend has also allowed him to focus more on his stroke and make subtle changes from week to week so as to improve.

“Oak’s internationality provides a wealth of diversity to the team. His experiences of training from his home country of Thailand supplies me, as a coach, a unique view of how things are done similarly and different in coaching the sport of swimming,” Illinois College head coach Christopher Sykes said. “His excitement about experiencing my coaching style demonstrates how open minded he is to train. His pure presence on the team is positive and encouraging. He is a great asset to the team.”

Wattanasirakul notes that he is incredibly excited and anxious for the conference meet at the end of the season.

“I’m very excited for the conference meet because I want to see where all the training can take me and how far I can push myself,” Wattanasirakul said. “I’m also hoping that I will make the invitation time for Nationals and compete there.”

Wattanasirakul is the current 200 breaststroke record holder at IC. He has also made it into the top five fastest times for the 100 breaststroke.

Taylor Brien is a senior swimmer at Illinois College.  Prior to joining Illinois College, she trained with Bettendorf Pleasant Valley Aquatics (2010-12), Pleasant Valley Swim Team (2004-09) and the Rock Island Orcas (2001-04).  She also competed for the Bettendorf High School swim team.

 

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