MONROE - Standing on the pool deck, Emily Pisula calls out for swimmers to continue kicking during a warm-up.
Pisula wasn't sure if she was destined to be a swimming coach, but swimming and coaching is in her blood. Emily's father, Mike Pisula served a 30-year stint as the Freeport High School swimming coach that has included 56 seasons between the girls and boys.
Emily said she didn't rule out coaching after swimming at the University of Wisconsin, but she looked forward to a break from the sport she dedicated her life to by training six to eight hours a day.
"It was just so much," she said of swimming in college. "I needed a break. I had to get a job like a normal person. Once I started coaching it felt like a natural thing. It didn't feel like a job. I feel like I can give back to the sport. I can't imagine not coaching now."
Pisula is in her ninth year coaching, but this is her first year coaching the 12 and older swimmers with the Green County Golden Gators. She started her swimming career at the age of 7 with the Freeport Aquatic Swim Team. A Freeport High School graduate, Pisula is a three-time IHSA state champion in the 200-yard individual medley. She still owns the state record in the 200 IM (2 minutes, 1.53 seconds). Pisula was a 15-time high school All-American in various events. After graduating, she went on to compete on the swim team at the University of Wisconsin where she was an All Big Ten selection, All-American, Big Ten champion in the 400 IM, school record holder and team captain.
Pisula competed at the Olympic Trails in 2000 and 2004. After graduating from UW, she coached a swim club in Monona for two years and then coached a year-round swim club at the DeForest Aquatic Center for six years.
"Swimming has given me a lot in my life and a lot of opportunities," Pisula said.
With three older sisters - Jennifer, Amy and Kathleen - all involved in swimming, Pisula drew motivation from them early on. Jennifer and Amy swam at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Kathleen swam at Wisconsin. Jennifer is now a swimming coach at Ashwaubenon.
"All of my sisters were swimming, and I had to do what they wanted to do," Pisula joked. "At first (swimming) was social. All of my friends were doing it. The competitiveness was intriguing to me. It's one of the only sports that is a team and individual sport. That was a big draw."
Pisula previously coached beginning swimmers in DeForest, and she said she has learned a lot from those early experiences.
"I feel the beginning swimmers really set the ground for my coaching," she said. "You learn so much more coaching little kids than I ever did swimming. I wish I could go back and apply that to my swimming after being around coaching."
In her first year coaching the 12 and older swimmers with the Green County Golden Gators, Pisula implemented Saturday morning practices with Level 4 and 5 swimmers. The day after Christmas, she didn't cancel practice and was surprised to see 12 swimmers show up at 7 a.m.
"There is always an adjustment when a new coach comes in," she said. "Bribing them with doughnuts for morning practices and workouts they weren't used to doesn't hurt."
Pisula said with about 24 swimmers 12 and older, there are different ability and commitment levels. The 12 and older swimmers practice five days a week for 7.5 hours for Level 4 and 10 hours for Level 5.
"Swimming is a training sport," she said. "You want to make sure it's enjoyable and fun. My ultimate goal is to make them better swimmers. The only way to get better at swimming is to push yourself further. These kids have really impressed me and stepped up."
Pisula said it's important to find a balance between training and making swimming enjoyable. Under Pisula's tutelage, several swimmers have made state YMCA cuts and even qualified for YMCA Nationals.
"There was a lot of talent already here when I got here," Pisula said.
She doesn't envision coaching for 30 years like her father, but Pisula won't close the door on the possibility.
"I take it one season at a time," she said.
Pisula and her husband, Todd Paradis, the principal at Parkside Elementary School, have three daughters - Mazie, 5; Harper, 3; and Lucy, 1. Pisula's daughters are not competing on the swim team yet, but it may not be long before they are. Pisula said it will be her children's choice if they want to swim.
"If they decide to swim, I will probably be in it for the long haul," she said. "If they decide not to swim, I probably will be a little disappointed. I will always be a coach in some way."
Pisula wasn't sure if she was destined to be a swimming coach, but swimming and coaching is in her blood. Emily's father, Mike Pisula served a 30-year stint as the Freeport High School swimming coach that has included 56 seasons between the girls and boys.
Emily said she didn't rule out coaching after swimming at the University of Wisconsin, but she looked forward to a break from the sport she dedicated her life to by training six to eight hours a day.
"It was just so much," she said of swimming in college. "I needed a break. I had to get a job like a normal person. Once I started coaching it felt like a natural thing. It didn't feel like a job. I feel like I can give back to the sport. I can't imagine not coaching now."
Pisula is in her ninth year coaching, but this is her first year coaching the 12 and older swimmers with the Green County Golden Gators. She started her swimming career at the age of 7 with the Freeport Aquatic Swim Team. A Freeport High School graduate, Pisula is a three-time IHSA state champion in the 200-yard individual medley. She still owns the state record in the 200 IM (2 minutes, 1.53 seconds). Pisula was a 15-time high school All-American in various events. After graduating, she went on to compete on the swim team at the University of Wisconsin where she was an All Big Ten selection, All-American, Big Ten champion in the 400 IM, school record holder and team captain.
Pisula competed at the Olympic Trails in 2000 and 2004. After graduating from UW, she coached a swim club in Monona for two years and then coached a year-round swim club at the DeForest Aquatic Center for six years.
"Swimming has given me a lot in my life and a lot of opportunities," Pisula said.
With three older sisters - Jennifer, Amy and Kathleen - all involved in swimming, Pisula drew motivation from them early on. Jennifer and Amy swam at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Kathleen swam at Wisconsin. Jennifer is now a swimming coach at Ashwaubenon.
"All of my sisters were swimming, and I had to do what they wanted to do," Pisula joked. "At first (swimming) was social. All of my friends were doing it. The competitiveness was intriguing to me. It's one of the only sports that is a team and individual sport. That was a big draw."
Pisula previously coached beginning swimmers in DeForest, and she said she has learned a lot from those early experiences.
"I feel the beginning swimmers really set the ground for my coaching," she said. "You learn so much more coaching little kids than I ever did swimming. I wish I could go back and apply that to my swimming after being around coaching."
In her first year coaching the 12 and older swimmers with the Green County Golden Gators, Pisula implemented Saturday morning practices with Level 4 and 5 swimmers. The day after Christmas, she didn't cancel practice and was surprised to see 12 swimmers show up at 7 a.m.
"There is always an adjustment when a new coach comes in," she said. "Bribing them with doughnuts for morning practices and workouts they weren't used to doesn't hurt."
Pisula said with about 24 swimmers 12 and older, there are different ability and commitment levels. The 12 and older swimmers practice five days a week for 7.5 hours for Level 4 and 10 hours for Level 5.
"Swimming is a training sport," she said. "You want to make sure it's enjoyable and fun. My ultimate goal is to make them better swimmers. The only way to get better at swimming is to push yourself further. These kids have really impressed me and stepped up."
Pisula said it's important to find a balance between training and making swimming enjoyable. Under Pisula's tutelage, several swimmers have made state YMCA cuts and even qualified for YMCA Nationals.
"There was a lot of talent already here when I got here," Pisula said.
She doesn't envision coaching for 30 years like her father, but Pisula won't close the door on the possibility.
"I take it one season at a time," she said.
Pisula and her husband, Todd Paradis, the principal at Parkside Elementary School, have three daughters - Mazie, 5; Harper, 3; and Lucy, 1. Pisula's daughters are not competing on the swim team yet, but it may not be long before they are. Pisula said it will be her children's choice if they want to swim.
"If they decide to swim, I will probably be in it for the long haul," she said. "If they decide not to swim, I probably will be a little disappointed. I will always be a coach in some way."
