The Clinton YMCA Otter swim team continues to grow in popularity, drawing kids from several central Illinois communities that participate in the program.

The swim team will soon start going to meets and opportunities through the program can largely be attributed to the Apple n' Pork Festival baked potato sales. Darren Moser is the President of the YMCA Board says it is hard to express how much the annual festival means to the program.

Like many groups that participate in the annual festival at the end of September, if the Otters did not have the opportunity to fundraise there, they'd have to take on other fundraisers and likely tap into community members for their support.

The YMCA has made many modifications and improvements to its swimming pool over the last decade. Moser says some of those have benefitted the swim program and they are looking ahead to more improvements now.

Moser directs anyone interested in learning more about the Otter Swim team to check out the YMCA Facebook page, visit clintoncommymca.org, or stop in to the Y at 417 South Alexander Street in Clinton.