MONROE - Jessica Weeden uses an unexpected musical selection to lock-in before swimming in big events.
She relies on listening to Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" as inspiration and to control the pre-competition butterflies.
"It's kind of a kids' song, but I love it," Weeden said. "I always pray before a swim."
Weeden, freshman Rachel Root, junior Leanna Schwartzlow, senior Randi Robertson and senior alternates Kendell Niffenegger and Sara Heitkamp are gearing up for the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the University of Wisconsin's Natatorium Friday night.
"I think the state meet is the icing on the cake," Monroe coach Linda Moser said. "It's one more chance to swim and go out there and prove to yourself you have what it takes to be an amazing swimmer. The four girls and the alternates are very prepared to take it one more step."
For Weeden, it's a last chance to add to a record-breaking senior year. Weeden has broken the 200-meter freestyle (1:58.75) and 400-meter freestyle (4:55.14) records this season. She will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at state. In the 200 freestyle, she is in the fastest heat and is seeded eighth.
"I think I was more nervous for the sectional," Weeden said. "Right now it's whatever we can do now. I will definitely be nervous on Friday. On Friday, whatever happens, happens. It's exciting so many people get to go and we don't have to swim by ourselves."
Brookfield Academy junior Kelsey Hojan-Clark is looking to repeat state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles. She enters the state meet with the fastest qualifying times in both events.
"Even though she (Weeden) has been in a lot of big meets before, it's another big meet and she gets nervous," Moser said. "She just needs to stay calm and believe in herself and her teammates."
Root qualified for state in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. She broke Alanna Bader's 100 backstroke record at the Baraboo sectional, finishing in 59.99 seconds, which gives her an eighth seed in the fastest heat at state.
Root is confident that with her best race she could be vying for a medal in the backstroke.
"I was pretty excited," Root said of qualifying for state in two events. "Fifty-nine (seconds) was my goal. I was happy to reach my goal."
Berlin-Green Lake junior Siri Smits is the returning champion in the 100 backstroke. Milton's Katelyn Holmquist enters the state meet with the fastest qualifying time (:57.37). Grafton senior Sadie Nennig, the state runner-up last year and a two-time state champion, also will be vying for a third state championship in the backstroke.
Moser is confident Root has the ability to be vying for a top-seven finish.
"I think she has a very good chance of moving up from where she is," Moser said. "If you look at medaling, it's too overwhelming."
Root said she has been working on her turns and said she could take a little more time off.
Schwartzlow qualified for state in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Schwartzlow expects to swim her best races at state.
"I'm excited, but nervous," she said. "We have been working on technique to fine-tune our strokes. It will probably be the best swim of the year. I hope to do my best and try my hardest."
Root and Schwartzlow face a loaded field in the 200 IM. Shorewood junior Clare Chamberlain has won the 200 IM state championship the last two years and she is looking to win her third straight state title. However, Milton senior Jennah Haney has the fastest qualifying time (2:06.93).
As a senior, Robertson teams with Weeden, Schwartzlow and Root on the state-bound 200 medley relay team, which swam a personal best time of 1:55.81 at the Baraboo sectional last week.
Robertson wants her final prep swimming race to be a memorable one. Swimming at the Natatorium in Madison will give Robertson a big stage to showcase her talents one more time.
"It's a good way to end the season," Robertson said. "I'm thinking about swimming in college. It feels good to make it since we haven't made it since freshman year."
Robertson also is gunning for setting a 200 medley relay school record.
"We want to break that record up there," she said. "We are a second and a half off. We know we can do it."
She relies on listening to Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" as inspiration and to control the pre-competition butterflies.
"It's kind of a kids' song, but I love it," Weeden said. "I always pray before a swim."
Weeden, freshman Rachel Root, junior Leanna Schwartzlow, senior Randi Robertson and senior alternates Kendell Niffenegger and Sara Heitkamp are gearing up for the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the University of Wisconsin's Natatorium Friday night.
"I think the state meet is the icing on the cake," Monroe coach Linda Moser said. "It's one more chance to swim and go out there and prove to yourself you have what it takes to be an amazing swimmer. The four girls and the alternates are very prepared to take it one more step."
For Weeden, it's a last chance to add to a record-breaking senior year. Weeden has broken the 200-meter freestyle (1:58.75) and 400-meter freestyle (4:55.14) records this season. She will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at state. In the 200 freestyle, she is in the fastest heat and is seeded eighth.
"I think I was more nervous for the sectional," Weeden said. "Right now it's whatever we can do now. I will definitely be nervous on Friday. On Friday, whatever happens, happens. It's exciting so many people get to go and we don't have to swim by ourselves."
Brookfield Academy junior Kelsey Hojan-Clark is looking to repeat state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles. She enters the state meet with the fastest qualifying times in both events.
"Even though she (Weeden) has been in a lot of big meets before, it's another big meet and she gets nervous," Moser said. "She just needs to stay calm and believe in herself and her teammates."
Root qualified for state in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. She broke Alanna Bader's 100 backstroke record at the Baraboo sectional, finishing in 59.99 seconds, which gives her an eighth seed in the fastest heat at state.
Root is confident that with her best race she could be vying for a medal in the backstroke.
"I was pretty excited," Root said of qualifying for state in two events. "Fifty-nine (seconds) was my goal. I was happy to reach my goal."
Berlin-Green Lake junior Siri Smits is the returning champion in the 100 backstroke. Milton's Katelyn Holmquist enters the state meet with the fastest qualifying time (:57.37). Grafton senior Sadie Nennig, the state runner-up last year and a two-time state champion, also will be vying for a third state championship in the backstroke.
Moser is confident Root has the ability to be vying for a top-seven finish.
"I think she has a very good chance of moving up from where she is," Moser said. "If you look at medaling, it's too overwhelming."
Root said she has been working on her turns and said she could take a little more time off.
Schwartzlow qualified for state in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Schwartzlow expects to swim her best races at state.
"I'm excited, but nervous," she said. "We have been working on technique to fine-tune our strokes. It will probably be the best swim of the year. I hope to do my best and try my hardest."
Root and Schwartzlow face a loaded field in the 200 IM. Shorewood junior Clare Chamberlain has won the 200 IM state championship the last two years and she is looking to win her third straight state title. However, Milton senior Jennah Haney has the fastest qualifying time (2:06.93).
As a senior, Robertson teams with Weeden, Schwartzlow and Root on the state-bound 200 medley relay team, which swam a personal best time of 1:55.81 at the Baraboo sectional last week.
Robertson wants her final prep swimming race to be a memorable one. Swimming at the Natatorium in Madison will give Robertson a big stage to showcase her talents one more time.
"It's a good way to end the season," Robertson said. "I'm thinking about swimming in college. It feels good to make it since we haven't made it since freshman year."
Robertson also is gunning for setting a 200 medley relay school record.
"We want to break that record up there," she said. "We are a second and a half off. We know we can do it."
