MONROE - Brenda Ritschard turned her job from high school and then her college internship into a career, one she's done for decades. And she's still enjoying the reason she started: Her love for children.
She's been working at Monroe's YMCA since before it was built and said she still loves being surrounded by people who feel like family in a place that feels like home.
She grew up in Monticello on a small farmette before her father built the family home. She has fond memories of working at and being around her family's popular restaurant, The Casino. The four eldest of the six children were a big part of helping out at the establishment that was passed down from her grandparents.
Small-town life often took Ritschard to the pool in the summer. It was a place she enjoyed, and by the time she was 16, she was a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons.
"Yes, I was always at the pool," Ritschard laughed.
As a high school student, she said, it was the extracurriculars where she shined. Not only did she immerse herself in sports like basketball, volleyball, track and cheer, but she also took on several other interests like student council, swing choir and chorus.
Her social nature likely came from her time at the restaurant, she said. She often talked with customers and eventually worked her way up to waitress.
In 1980, she graduated from Monticello High School with a small class of less than 25 that felt like a family. She didn't really have a plan after graduation but decided to go to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She hoped to follow her love for sports and be a physical education teacher. But the young girl had never been away from family, and it wasn't long before she became homesick.
"I am very grateful my mom let me come home," Ritschard said.
She decided to go to Madison Area Technical College. She still hoped to work with children and earned her degree in human services for juveniles.
"My real plan was to always be a mom and have kids," Ritschard said. "I never really thought of a career."
After graduation, she took on an internship at Monroe's YMCA. It was then located at the Westgate Mall, where the organization farmed out programs as the current facility was being built. She enjoyed working, setting up leagues and taking over the Chicken Little Preschool Program.
"I just loved it," Ritschard said. "I just love what the Y stands for. And there were always kids around."
Once her one-year internship was completed, Ritschard was asked to stay on staff part time, and she also worked at Swiss Colony. Once the Y facility was built, she came back full time as a swim instructor and lifeguard. Two years later, she moved into the aquatic director position.
"I liked the challenge, but it was really overwhelming," Ritschard said.
After being in the position 20 years, she said, it was time for a break.
"I love what I do, but the pressure of running a department, having high school kids working for you and the details," she said, "I was getting nervous as I was getting older - it was a lot."
While she stepped away, Ritschard still wanted to be around children. She began working with students at the middle school in behavioral education in both Monroe and New Glarus. She eventually decided to go back to school to earn her special education teaching degree.
In the meantime, a new YMCA director had started, and called upon Ritschard to come back as the aquatic director. They had been through at least four directors in the five years she'd been gone.
She agreed, this time having grown as a person, knowing what to expect and having a break.
"I was prepared," she said. "I made the right decision. I love what I do."
Rischard is often able to take children from being afraid of the water to feeling accomplished. She said it's one thing that never gets old. For more than 25 years, she said, she has hugged freely, coached and taught firmly, and she still holds an affinity for all the YMCA stands for.
"The seniors are my moms, the swim teams are my kids, and there are kind, good, giving people to work with," Ritschard said. "This place is like my home."
She also still enjoys swimming on her own, she said. The one person she can't get to swim, however, is her husband, Dan.
"He's a farmer - he swears he'll sink," she laughed.
She said she's a different aquatic director now than when she was younger, and she's much better at handling administrative work, budgeting and her staff.
And her passion for teaching children - and people - to swim is still strong, she said. With 80 percent of the world being made of water, she feels that teaching a child to swim is like giving them a lifelong gift. Seeing the accomplishment come from a place that once held fear still feels like an incredible feat, despite many years in the position.
She has also coached the swim team for 15 years and has seen several phenomenal athletes find success. In recent years, she's stepped back after welcoming a new coach, and she said she's happy to have less pressure and a great person helping take over.
But coaching, she said, is her favorite thing to do at the Y. Being with a team for 6 months brings the athletes and their families close.
"Ninety-nine percent of them aren't Olympians," Ritschard said. "But we can make a difference and touch their lives with core values."
And although Ritschard never got that teaching degree, she said she's recognized around town as a teacher to so many of the swimmers she's had. She said it's a reward that makes her feel honored.
Her four children, who were all very athletic, grew up at the Y with their mother, and she said she's happy they could be close and having fun.
"My kids put a lot of hours in here with me," Ritschard said. "They were active, around people, playing games. They learned a lot here. It was a great place to raise my kids."
As part of her love for children, she and her husband served as foster parents for a time. She said her great family and strong relationship made her want to welcome more children into her home. She's happy for time spent caring for them.
Ritschard hasn't done much to relax over the years after being busy with her own teams and her children's sporting events. But she and Dan are avid Cubs and Bears fans and often head to spring training in Arizona while visiting her brother.
Her youngest daughter is slated to graduate next year, which will bring change to her life and her household. She said she's looking forward to her first grandchild, expected this summer, and spending more time with family.
"Family is on my horizon," Ritschard laughed. She also would like to travel more with Dan.
Although Ritschard has dreamed of being part of the Peace Corps and other far away stretches, she knows that staying close to home is part of who she is. Instead, she hopes to volunteer in the community.
The Y is an important part of such a small community, and she feels lucky to be such a big part of it.
"As I grew up, the core values of the Y are really why I stay and why I'm here," Ritschard said. "It's more than just teaching swimming lessons."
She's been working at Monroe's YMCA since before it was built and said she still loves being surrounded by people who feel like family in a place that feels like home.
She grew up in Monticello on a small farmette before her father built the family home. She has fond memories of working at and being around her family's popular restaurant, The Casino. The four eldest of the six children were a big part of helping out at the establishment that was passed down from her grandparents.
Small-town life often took Ritschard to the pool in the summer. It was a place she enjoyed, and by the time she was 16, she was a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons.
"Yes, I was always at the pool," Ritschard laughed.
As a high school student, she said, it was the extracurriculars where she shined. Not only did she immerse herself in sports like basketball, volleyball, track and cheer, but she also took on several other interests like student council, swing choir and chorus.
Her social nature likely came from her time at the restaurant, she said. She often talked with customers and eventually worked her way up to waitress.
In 1980, she graduated from Monticello High School with a small class of less than 25 that felt like a family. She didn't really have a plan after graduation but decided to go to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She hoped to follow her love for sports and be a physical education teacher. But the young girl had never been away from family, and it wasn't long before she became homesick.
"I am very grateful my mom let me come home," Ritschard said.
She decided to go to Madison Area Technical College. She still hoped to work with children and earned her degree in human services for juveniles.
"My real plan was to always be a mom and have kids," Ritschard said. "I never really thought of a career."
After graduation, she took on an internship at Monroe's YMCA. It was then located at the Westgate Mall, where the organization farmed out programs as the current facility was being built. She enjoyed working, setting up leagues and taking over the Chicken Little Preschool Program.
"I just loved it," Ritschard said. "I just love what the Y stands for. And there were always kids around."
Once her one-year internship was completed, Ritschard was asked to stay on staff part time, and she also worked at Swiss Colony. Once the Y facility was built, she came back full time as a swim instructor and lifeguard. Two years later, she moved into the aquatic director position.
"I liked the challenge, but it was really overwhelming," Ritschard said.
After being in the position 20 years, she said, it was time for a break.
"I love what I do, but the pressure of running a department, having high school kids working for you and the details," she said, "I was getting nervous as I was getting older - it was a lot."
While she stepped away, Ritschard still wanted to be around children. She began working with students at the middle school in behavioral education in both Monroe and New Glarus. She eventually decided to go back to school to earn her special education teaching degree.
In the meantime, a new YMCA director had started, and called upon Ritschard to come back as the aquatic director. They had been through at least four directors in the five years she'd been gone.
She agreed, this time having grown as a person, knowing what to expect and having a break.
"I was prepared," she said. "I made the right decision. I love what I do."
Rischard is often able to take children from being afraid of the water to feeling accomplished. She said it's one thing that never gets old. For more than 25 years, she said, she has hugged freely, coached and taught firmly, and she still holds an affinity for all the YMCA stands for.
"The seniors are my moms, the swim teams are my kids, and there are kind, good, giving people to work with," Ritschard said. "This place is like my home."
She also still enjoys swimming on her own, she said. The one person she can't get to swim, however, is her husband, Dan.
"He's a farmer - he swears he'll sink," she laughed.
She said she's a different aquatic director now than when she was younger, and she's much better at handling administrative work, budgeting and her staff.
And her passion for teaching children - and people - to swim is still strong, she said. With 80 percent of the world being made of water, she feels that teaching a child to swim is like giving them a lifelong gift. Seeing the accomplishment come from a place that once held fear still feels like an incredible feat, despite many years in the position.
She has also coached the swim team for 15 years and has seen several phenomenal athletes find success. In recent years, she's stepped back after welcoming a new coach, and she said she's happy to have less pressure and a great person helping take over.
But coaching, she said, is her favorite thing to do at the Y. Being with a team for 6 months brings the athletes and their families close.
"Ninety-nine percent of them aren't Olympians," Ritschard said. "But we can make a difference and touch their lives with core values."
And although Ritschard never got that teaching degree, she said she's recognized around town as a teacher to so many of the swimmers she's had. She said it's a reward that makes her feel honored.
Her four children, who were all very athletic, grew up at the Y with their mother, and she said she's happy they could be close and having fun.
"My kids put a lot of hours in here with me," Ritschard said. "They were active, around people, playing games. They learned a lot here. It was a great place to raise my kids."
As part of her love for children, she and her husband served as foster parents for a time. She said her great family and strong relationship made her want to welcome more children into her home. She's happy for time spent caring for them.
Ritschard hasn't done much to relax over the years after being busy with her own teams and her children's sporting events. But she and Dan are avid Cubs and Bears fans and often head to spring training in Arizona while visiting her brother.
Her youngest daughter is slated to graduate next year, which will bring change to her life and her household. She said she's looking forward to her first grandchild, expected this summer, and spending more time with family.
"Family is on my horizon," Ritschard laughed. She also would like to travel more with Dan.
Although Ritschard has dreamed of being part of the Peace Corps and other far away stretches, she knows that staying close to home is part of who she is. Instead, she hopes to volunteer in the community.
The Y is an important part of such a small community, and she feels lucky to be such a big part of it.
"As I grew up, the core values of the Y are really why I stay and why I'm here," Ritschard said. "It's more than just teaching swimming lessons."