MONROE - Nina Schiro has envisioned swimming at the state meet. She just didn't think her turn on the big stage would come this year.
Schiro, a sophomore at New Glarus High School, is one of four swimmers for the Monroe-New Glarus swim team who will make the trip to Madison to compete in the WIAA Division 2 state meet Friday at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium. Schiro will swim three races at state - the 500-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay.
"I wanted to make it to state, and I thought I would do it my junior year," Schiro said. "I really wasn't expecting it. I just tried my best, and I made it to state."
Schiro swam the 500 freestyle for the first time this season. She finished fifth in the Baraboo sectional in a season-best time of 5 minutes, 33 seconds. Schiro is seeded 15th out of 16 swimmers at state in both the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
"I've always thought of myself as a sprinter," Schiro said. "I'm surprised by how well I have done in the 500 freestyle this year. The first time I swam it this year I just started off with a steady pace. My second time swimming it I tried to go faster. I have worked on going faster ever since. I would say the key to me is getting to the wall fast and getting off of it even faster and not trying to breathe as much."
Grafton senior Autumn Haebig seeks to become the first swimmer in state meet history to win four titles in the 500 freestyle. She is a strong favorite with a top-seeded time of 4:53.18, which is more than 11 seconds faster than the next closest qualifier. Haebig is also the defending state champion in the 100 backstroke.
Schiro started swimming when she was 8 years old with the Sugar River Rapids summer team in New Glarus.
She honed her swimming technique and strokes in the summer with New Glarus. Schiro said improving her flip turns can allow her to cut even more time in the 500 freestyle.
"I'm just excited to go to state," she said. "I'm just going for a best time and trying to beat some people next to me."
Schiro doesn't expect the state meet to make her tense. She's been in big meets before and plans to draw on those previous experiences Friday.
"I will treat it like any other meet and try my best," she said. "I think it will help having some of my teammates there because we can help support each other."
Haebig is the favorite to repeat as the state champion in the 100 backstroke with a top seed time of 55.05 seconds. Schiro's seed time is 1:01.
When she's not swimming or doing homework, Schiro's hobbies are spending time with friends, cooking and baking with family, shopping and being active outside.
"I don't have any time for shopping during swim season," she said.
Schiro, a sophomore at New Glarus High School, is one of four swimmers for the Monroe-New Glarus swim team who will make the trip to Madison to compete in the WIAA Division 2 state meet Friday at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium. Schiro will swim three races at state - the 500-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay.
"I wanted to make it to state, and I thought I would do it my junior year," Schiro said. "I really wasn't expecting it. I just tried my best, and I made it to state."
Schiro swam the 500 freestyle for the first time this season. She finished fifth in the Baraboo sectional in a season-best time of 5 minutes, 33 seconds. Schiro is seeded 15th out of 16 swimmers at state in both the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
"I've always thought of myself as a sprinter," Schiro said. "I'm surprised by how well I have done in the 500 freestyle this year. The first time I swam it this year I just started off with a steady pace. My second time swimming it I tried to go faster. I have worked on going faster ever since. I would say the key to me is getting to the wall fast and getting off of it even faster and not trying to breathe as much."
Grafton senior Autumn Haebig seeks to become the first swimmer in state meet history to win four titles in the 500 freestyle. She is a strong favorite with a top-seeded time of 4:53.18, which is more than 11 seconds faster than the next closest qualifier. Haebig is also the defending state champion in the 100 backstroke.
Schiro started swimming when she was 8 years old with the Sugar River Rapids summer team in New Glarus.
She honed her swimming technique and strokes in the summer with New Glarus. Schiro said improving her flip turns can allow her to cut even more time in the 500 freestyle.
"I'm just excited to go to state," she said. "I'm just going for a best time and trying to beat some people next to me."
Schiro doesn't expect the state meet to make her tense. She's been in big meets before and plans to draw on those previous experiences Friday.
"I will treat it like any other meet and try my best," she said. "I think it will help having some of my teammates there because we can help support each other."
Haebig is the favorite to repeat as the state champion in the 100 backstroke with a top seed time of 55.05 seconds. Schiro's seed time is 1:01.
When she's not swimming or doing homework, Schiro's hobbies are spending time with friends, cooking and baking with family, shopping and being active outside.
"I don't have any time for shopping during swim season," she said.
