Wildcats cap brilliant 2021 with return to State splashdown
Off the blocks and into the deep end, the girls swim team fought to capitalize in the postseason following a dominant season. Led by seniors Melana Zeinert and Lillie Arps, the Wildcats managed to pull off a 5-1 regular season record, falling only nine conference points behind the Appleton North Lightning.
At the FVA Conference meet, the team surged through the competition, placing second, and sending a multitude of relays and individual swimmers to the state competition. Arps swam the 200 free and 100 fly, while also leading two relays. In addition, sophomoreSophomore Addy Hirsbrunner competed in the 100 fly and 100 back.
As far as relays, Arps, Claire and Carly Salzer (senior and sophomore respectively), and Hirsbrunner represented the Wildcats in the medley relay. The Salzer sisters, Zeinert, and junior Caitie Schnieder, smashed the school record in the 200 free relay, followed by another school record in the 400 free, set by Arps, Schnieder, Zeinert, and Hirsbrunner.
Senior Melana Zeinert was glad to be part of and help lead such an accomplished team.
“Swim season was a huge success,” she said. “Sending nine girls to state is the most we’ve sent in recent years, making the season one of the most successful in school history.”
Overall, the team placed seventeenth, wrapping up an incredibly successful season. Coach Wayne attributes the success of her athletes to athletic commitment and an unselfish character.
“These girls spend many hours in the pool and are extremely dedicated to their goals and improving,” she said. “On top of that, they have a team mentality. They work together by pushing each other to reach their goals and not settle.”
While building a team culture garners great success, it isn’t always easy. However, this squad made it look effortless.
“Being a no-cut sport is especially important, and having great leaders makes the team a lot stronger,” Wayne said. “Lillie Arps and Melana Zeinert often lead by example and through their races. Claire Salzer and [senior] Molli Peterson lead by planning fun team events, or hyping the team. [Seniors] Ellie Toonen and Irie Ulrich have been great leaders for our new swimmers, incorporating them into the team and showing them techniques.”
Contributing to the tightly-knit team of swimmers were the many dinners, and even running a Tik Tok account, many times featured by Wayne and Coach Lori Salzer.
The swimmers faced some challenges in the weeks leading up to state. Because the WIAA doesn’t technically recognize swimming as a ‘team sport’, the girls weren’t able to undergo the full state send-off experience.
Athletic Director Brad Jodarski clarified the rules and guidelines between the WIAA and Oshkosh West High School.
“For a long time, we have followed the guideline that team sports get a sendoff upon qualification for state,” Jodarski said. “However, there are certain sports, such as swimming and cross country, that can send individuals, but not teams.”
The rules, according to Jodarski, establish consistency within school sports and activities.
“All in all, this guideline followed by administration allows for fairness when distinguishing qualifications between athletics and activities,” he said. “If an individual qualifies for state, but not the team, the individual(s) will be recognized following the completion of the last sport in its designated season.”
Claire Salzer was disappointed by the distraction.
“There are times when swimming is more obviously pushed aside, such as the state send-offsend off,” she said. “I understand that rules are rules, and they have to be followed, but it is unfortunate that the last week of the season was spent fighting for our rights as a team.”
Community leader and parent Deb Laibly passionately argues that the Wildcat’s hard work should be recognized.
“Oshkosh West Swim is a team in every sense, and should be celebrated,” she said. “A school send-off would be the best way for peers and teachers to send good luck and momentum headed into this big of a competition.”
To show their appreciation for the dedication to the team, many teachers and faculty rallied beforeprior to the girl’s departure for State.
“Many of the teachers and other West staff support us and our team almost daily and their support is so appreciated,'' Claire Salzer said.
Given the current rules, Zeinert found it to be a tasteful compromise.
“I do feel appreciated as a swimmer for West,” she said. “However, regarding the send-off situation, I feel as if it could’ve been handled in a much better way, but the lunch send-off was much appreciated.”
Through the perseverance of the team, Zeinert hopes that she can set a good example for the next wave of Wildcat swimmers.
“Just keep swimming hard,” she said. “Do your best no matter the circumstances, and always strive to be the best you can possibly be.”
A common misconception of swimming is its short season. However, through various club teams, such as OSHY, swimmers perfect their craft year-round.
“I believe the success is a direct reflection of the work these girls put in year-round,” Wayne said. “These girls are constantly striving to meet goals, and pushing to maximize each other’s potential.”
The endless hours together in the pool account for the natural friendship that constructs the powerful team.
On the flip side, the team’s success can also be attributed to their work out of the water.
“Not only are they a talented group in the pool, but they are well-rounded individuals,” Wayne said. “They take challenging classes, volunteer, hold jobs, etc.”
Wayne leaves the senior class with some final remarks.
“It has been a true joy to coach you all and I am so proud of the senior class,” she said. “Continue to be good humans and never stop reaching for your goals.”
Looking towards the future, West swim will lose many incredible swimmers and leaders, though the next generation of Wildcat swimming looks promising.
“Although we are losing 13 seniors, we have several underclassmen who have been improving steadily,” Wayne said. “I am excited to see how the underclassmen improve in the pool and how they develop into leaders.”
By John Vanden Heuvel
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 3
November 29 2021