Athlete of the Week: Brebeuf's Ellie Mallon

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Life for Brebeuf junior Ellie Mallon revolves around the water. 

Not only is she a standout swimmer, but it' in the water that she found her calling: caring for animals. She found her calling after she rescued a sea turtle stuck in a jetty while at her grandma's in Texas.

"Being able to help something that couldn't help itself, giving a voice to something that didn't have a voice in the first place, that was a big thing for me," said Mallon. 

She then decided to start the club, RAFA, which stands for Raising Awareness for Animals, and it happens to now be one of Brebeuf's biggest clubs. 

"The response from the school was really cool because we have a lot of clubs for human needs, and for me I felt like there was a real need for an animal club.  It was really well received," added Mallon. 

Ellie is hoping to combine her two great passions with a career in marine biology.  She wants to help protect endangered animals.

"I want to give the public that sense that animals really do need to be protected, especially marine organisms because they're so important to our eco system," said Mallon.