Millersville, Pa. – Age really is just a number to Amanda Wetzler of the women's swimming team. Not only is she a swimmer for the Millersville Marauders, but she also holds titles of mother, wife, coach, actor and a student-athlete. Wetzler is a 31-year-old mother with a 3-year-old son, Kellen, and a husband, Alejandro.

Wetzler first dove into the pool as a Millersville University student-athlete 11 years ago. Now, she is classified as a non-traditional student, but bucking tradition is what makes her story special, and it is what makes Wetzler such an asset to Millersville swimming. Her journey includes leaving Lancaster County for the bright lights of Hollywood, living the life of the starving actress, getting married, having a son, returning to Millersville first as a coach and then as a student-athlete once again.

Wetzler has always lived her life by making and achieving goals. That's why, as a third-generation Millersville University student, after one season with the swim team, Wetzler departed for the West Coast. She loved acting. She had performed in small plays, local commercials and some print modeling jobs, but she was bitten by the bug. She was afforded the opportunity to attend acting school, and she believed the best place to pursue the dream was Los Angeles. 

After two years of arts school, Wetzler spent the next four years auditioning with varying success. She landed bit parts on TV shows like "CSI: Criminal Minds" and movies like Adam Sandler's "Don't Mess with the Zohan." But the work wasn't consistent, and Wetzler found the scene in stark contrast with the morals and beliefs she acquired growing up near Lancaster. 

"I had mild success as far as acting and directing," said Wetzler. "I got small jobs and some were good paying and some were not. It is not an even career. Sometimes you will have a job that will last you for two years in which you will get paid for two years and have nothing in between. It is a job with a lot of highs and lows and stresses and a lot of financial worries. It did not aligned with my morals. It has to do a lot with what you look like instead of what your abilities are. I did not feel that I was not in love with the business of it and how people were treated, but I was in love with the craft, the acting craft. I did not want to pass that onto my son."

But even while attending arts school and acting, Wetzler never forgot her first love, which was swimming. In LA, Wetzler continued to swim in the U.S. Master's program and did so even while pregnant with Kellen. 

"When I was expecting my son, I knew I wanted to continue swimming and I swam the entire time that I was expecting," said Wetzler. "I swam the mile at a meet when I was six months pregnant and I could barely breathe or move. I wanted to inspire (Kellen) to be whatever he wanted to be, not matter if he wants to change his career or do whatever. I knew I wanted to give him the best opportunities and excel no matter what situation he is facing."

Being active in the U.S. Masters Swimming sparked a new dream within Wetzler. She saw the drive for improvement in her teammates and was inspired. 

"I learned that coaching swimming and strength (training) was something that inspired a passion within me," said Wetzler. "I contacted Kyle (Almoney) to see if he needed any help with his team. He found a spot for me on his staff."

Wetzler packed her bags, uprooted her family and returned to her home in Lancaster County. Not as a student-athlete at first, but as the Marauders' volunteer assistant coach where she mentored the swimmers she now calls teammates.

"I really enjoy coming back," said Wetzler. "I was really nervous about coaching here and being back at the school that I once attended. But it was comfortable. The environment is motivating and the sports atmosphere has changed so much in the last 10 years. I came back and every sports team was really trying hard to get to amazing levels. That culture change really shocked me, and I would really want to be a part of this. It excited me and motivated me."

"As an assistant coach, Amanda was always very passionate and worked well with athletes," said Almoney. "She listened and also challenged them to work to their fullest potential as well and was always so very driven. She was a great source of information too.

"As a coach, she was strong, motivating, and respectful," said her swimming senior Emily Fusco. "She saw the best in all of her athletes and helped each swimmer become closer to achieving their goals every day. She coached with such grace and discipline, with emotional intelligence and focus on specific training details."

Wetzler and Almoney already had a bond from her competing for the 5-0 2006-07 team. Wetzler and Almoney picked up where they left off. Wetzler appreciated Almoney's ability and willingness to listen to his athletes while challenging Wetzler to improve in her abilities and knowledge of coaching. 

Coaching in Pucillo Natatorium for one season helped Wetzler set a new goal. She wanted to be a swimming coach. But the career change necessitated a degree, and that meant going back to the classroom at Millersville for the first time in a decade. And standing poolside stirred up unfulfilled goals as a swimmer for Wetzler. If she was going back to class, why not jump back in the pool? 

Being a 31-year-old mother, wife and full-time college student is hard enough. But Wetzler has proven throughout her life that when she sets a goal, she works toward it, regardless of how choppy the waters might be. 

"It is intimidating," said Wetzler. "It is hard that no one else has kids. They are also engage in social events and stuff in which I feel a little left out on, but it motivates me. My son motivates me to do better. I want to set an example for him. If ever he wanted to change his career at any time, I would want to be supportive of that. I want him to know that he has any option in life. He can the best electrician in the world, or an athlete or a musician. He has options at any time of his life."

Wetzler has successfully dove back into life as a student-athlete. She is among the team's top swimmers in the sprint events, and holds the 29th-best time in the PSAC in the 100-yard backstroke. She has already qualified for the PSAC Championships in that event. It is expected that as the season progresses, she will also qualify in the sprint freestyle events. 

"Amanda had a successful acting career, and has a beautiful, bright, three year old son," said Fusco. "She manages to raise her child, take classes at Millersville, have a career, and bring positivity and motivation to practice every single day. Since Amanda has become my teammate, I've been able to witness her incredible drive and love for the sport. I've never met another individual who is able to take on any situation with complete confidence."

Wetzler's confidence and goal-driven attitude is evident to the Millersville swimmers, and because of that, Wetzler isn't just any other teammate. She serves as a role model and as a coach behind the scenes for her younger teammates. 

"It is a different dynamic than what it used to be," said Wetzler. "I enjoy it because I can help the girls with problems that I have already gone through. It is a good dynamic between me and them. I really enjoy the (competition) that they give, and I can return that as well as be a motherly figure sometimes. I like it, and it is good supporting role."

Wetzler lived through the stress of waiting for call backs, looking for work and hoping the next audition is the one. She moved across the country twice. She started a new career path at 31 years old. She is working toward a degree. She is raising a family. Her experiences made her stronger, and as a coach and as a teammate, she takes those life lessons and serves as an inspiration to her teammates who want to pursue their dreams.

"Amanda is setting such an amazing example of hard work, love, and humility," said Fusco. "She is a constant reminder to us all of who we strive to be in the future. Amanda is a living example of how being a student-athlete at Millersville prepares you for success after graduation. She is the goal that I strive to become when I one day become a mother with a career. She's impacted this team in so many ways, from when she was a member 10 years ago, to being an assistant coach, to completing her eligibility this season."

Non-traditional? Wetzler and the Marauders like it that way.