My Words: Thank you for teaching us how to be problem-solvers

I’ve always enjoyed the whole problem-solving aspect of things. I love that about myself. I got it from my dad and I’m proud of it.

When I first came to swim for Wisconsin in 2020, I was undecided on a major, but eventually opted for mechanical engineering in large part because my dad, Tim, was one. He and I always hung out together, whether that meant building go-karts, remodeling our basement or refurbishing a 1992 Jeep Wrangler. I learned how to weld, to replace a radiator and swing a hammer.

So, even though I’ve changed my major to Health Promotion and Health Equity – it’s a mix of kinesiology and psychology – it doesn’t mean that I’ve all of a sudden steered clear of solving problems that have arisen in my life. In fact, my favorite moment from spending the last five years as a student-athlete at Wisconsin is a prime example of that.

Winning a second NCAA title in the 200 backstroke earlier this year was a full-circle experience that left me feeling humbled, grateful and thrilled. It not only helped set me up for a second berth on the U.S. Olympic Team for the Summer Games in Paris, it restored something important in me that had been lacking.

I’d lost most, if not all, of my confidence in my backstroke, my swimming – everything – heading into my junior year at UW. I had spent the entire time trying to build myself back up and still wasn’t sure where I stood. None of this was put onto me by an outside source, a parent or anything. It was all on me.ng you’ve had thrown at you, somehow, you’re going to find a way to make the most of that moment. Everything gives you a sense of power that you’re not going to be in a bad situation for very long.

My issues began after the 2022 World Championships when I won a silver medal in the 200 back. I was really happy with where I was at and all, but I felt strangely uncomfortable as I prepared to try and duplicate my success at the NCAA meet in 2023. I wound up finishing second at the NCAA championships and U.S. national team trials for the World Championships that summer. I remember going there and essentially being behind the block almost in tears because I was so nervous and anxious and worried that I was not going to perform well.

Suddenly there were all these what-ifs going through my head. Did I take the right path? Did I do the right thing. Am I fast enough? What if I don’t go fast? That just led me into a spiral.

When I failed to make the U.S. team in the summer of ’23, I got out of the water pretty devastated. For whatever reason, I was off my game and didn’t know why. My coach at Wisconsin, Yuri Suguiyama, and I spent a lot of time talking about how to get back on track. I’d lost sight of why I swim and the reason why I swam. I needed to regain that sense of joy and fun when I’m standing on the pool deck.

That’s where my Badgers teammates and the emerging quality of our program came to the rescue. My fourth season turned out to be an unforgettable one. We beat powerhouse Michigan in a home dual meet, scoring the most points in school history in a Big Ten Conference meet and everyone in the “Wisco” contingent scored at least one point in the NCAA championships.

When I won my first NCAA title and ultimately qualified for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, we didn’t have a lot of depth and we weren’t super, super fast in that moment. Besides, COVID had reared its ugly head. 

After I won my second NCAA title and later qualified for the U.S. team that competed in Paris, I got out of the pool and was surrounded by all the UW teammates that were there. Being able to hop out of the water and see everyone made me so happy. It made me feel so strong, so much more confident. It showed how far we’ve come as a men’s and women’s program and kind of rounded out my year of trying to get back to where I was and feel proud about something.

I definitely see myself as a leader of this team and this program. It comes down to me having a strong voice and being able to get their attention in a positive way. It’s also about showing by doing, by coming in early and staying late. At the end of the day, I’m determined to walk out of our beautiful home at Soderholm Family Aquatic Center with a smile because I’m genuinely happy and privileged to be there.

As Yuri is fond of saying, “Grateful for everything, entitled to nothing.”

Going to France as a Wisconsin and Olympic athlete allowed me to take a little extra pride in what I was doing. I was constantly receiving text messages from past and current Badgers wishing me good luck. One of the first days I spent in the Olympic Village I ran into Taiko Torepe-Ormsby, one of our top men’s swimmers at UW who swam for New Zealand.

I don’t have my life set in stone, but I plan to wear my Badger swim cap for years to come as I try to make my way to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games.

Along with the many Wisconsin Olympians and student-athletes, I want to give thanks to all the donors in our midst. We take so much pride in being able to represent such an amazing university on such a huge international stage. You have helped us all to achieve our dreams in and out of sports and, in turn, we have been happy to represent Wisconsin Athletics when we do.

Thank you for teaching us how to be problem-solvers.

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