Witt-Birn girls swim team hoping for another big year in pool

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School girls swim team is hoping for a repeat performance of its 2019 season as it prepares to dive into the pool this fall.

Despite not having a ton of swimmers on its roster last year, Witt-Birn placed third at the Bay Conference Meet. The team capped its strong season by having four different swimmers make it to state between three events.

While the team graduated three seniors, coach John Rudeen does return several experienced swimmers, including two that were at state. For that reason, the coach believes the team could place about where it did last year in the conference, even with a bit smaller roster.

Senior McKenna Metropulos will lead the team. She qualified for state in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly as an individual and was also on the state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay team.

Metropulos was the Bay’s top swimmer in the 100 butterfly and placed second in the 50 freestyle, along with helping the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay teams to first-place finishes at the 2019 conference meet.

Making it back to state and reaching the podium would have been one of Metropulos’ biggest goals this season, but with the coronavirus pandemic potentially wiping out state, the seniors and team’s goals changed a bit. Metropulos said she and the team will now focus on improving times in their respective events while trying to win as many duals as possible.

Metropulos, who plans to focus all her attention on swimming after competing in swim and volleyball during past fall seasons, is also looking forward to serving as a team leader.

“I will be able to share my passion for swimming to my underclassmen while keeping everyone motivated during these tough times. A huge role for me this season is going to be just that. It can be hard to stay focused and have high spirits while the world is going through tough times, but my role this year as a captain and senior will be to make sure everyone can stay happy and motivated during all that is happening.”

Annika Resch is the other swimmer back that made it to state, which she did as a freshman as a part of the 200 freestyle relay team.

Resch swam to second-place finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyles at the conference meet, along with helping the two first-place relays.

Senior Emma Herb (freestyle) and juniors Jalynn Horacek (breaststroke), Adreonna Bessert (freestyle, breaststroke), Kaylee Schram (freestyle) and Alexa Chaney (IM, butterfly) and sophomore Jessica Storlie (backstroke, freestyle) are also back for the Chargers.

Junior Olivia Stark (backstroke, freestyle) will also be in the mix after joining the team.

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