Written by Katlyn Marotz, Sports Editor & Staff Writer
The Indian Trail boys Swim and Dive’s 2021 season has been an unforgettable and successful experience that won’t be forgotten to everyone that was a part of it.
On Jan. 30, at the Sectionals meet in Muskego, varsity senior captain Ben Wirch qualified for the state WIAA Division-1 boys swim meet for a third consecutive year. The swim captain won the 200-yard freestyle and placed second in the 500 freestyle.
Junior captain Will Gilbert also qualified for State in the 500 freestyle, and finished third at Sectionals.
“Will not only set personal best times in every event he swam, but he clobbered his old times as much as 15 seconds in the 500 and 7 seconds in the 200,” Head Coach Billy Gilbert said. “William just missed state in the 200 free.”
The Division-1 State meet was held on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 at Waukesha South. Wirch placed 8th in the 200-yard freestyle with 1:44.88 and 11th in the 500 freestyle with 4:47.97. Will Gilbert placed 16th in the 500 freestyle with 4:54.56.
“I am very grateful to swim for Indian Trail, and I think I have come a long way since freshman year,” Wirch said. “Going to state three times was definitely a positive, but I am also happy with the in-season progress I made. When I started out swimming freshman year, I was nowhere near where I am today.”
Initially, he thought the season was going to crash and burn because of the winter sports suspension which was lifted on Jan. 4. And even though the season was shortened, which made it harder to prepare for long distance races, it was still an overall good year.
“I felt like my short distance races were just fine, but COVID definitely messed up my 500 Freestyle,” Wirch said.
His participation in the club team, the Pleasant Prairie Patriots, helped improve his times in preparation for the rest of the season following January. Wirch is currently deciding to swim for either UW-Madison or UW Eau-Claire for next year.
In the last couple years, Indian Trail’s swim team has had outstanding seasons, including this year, but the team has seen a drop in members to 12 this year. Still, the team beat both Tremper and Bradford high schools at Sectionals.
Coach Gilbert expressed that one of the main challenges was getting people to come out for the team.
“We had no divers at all this year. However, when the season was postponed, we didn’t get to do any invitationals so the guys didn’t get to race very much. Usually we have seven dual meets and four invites. This year we only had four dual meets.”
The usual routine consisted of having practices at the YMCA, from just after 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.. The in-water practice is followed by dry-land training, consisting of exercises like pushups, pull-ups, core, or leg work till the end of practice at 6 p.m..
“We have a really great group of guys on the team. It’s been an honor to be able to work with them this season,” Coach Gilbert said.
While at practice the team does bonding activities in order to get to know each other, but it doesn’t take the same effect as previous normal years.
“I feel like the pandemic has affected the team negatively because before we could have pasta parties and do fun stuff and now we only see each other at practices and meets.” Witch said.
Nonetheless, the Swim and Dive team was able to come together and complete their season even during the COVID-19 pandemic.