Swimmers get Eastern influence

The swimming was the easy part when Anna Meinholz found herself in Osaka, Japan in September, competing with others from around the United States and world. The cheering? That proved to be a little more nuanced than anticipated.

"We didn't really have our stuff on deck; that was all upstairs by the stadium seating area, and that's where we had our bags and stuff, so we would walk up and down," the Oconomowoc resident and Catholic Memorial student said. "We were sitting in the stands, and everyone would stand up off their seats (to cheer on teammates). Our translator said it was disrespectful to stand up and cheer, you have to stay in your seats. We had no idea."

For Meinholz and Waukesha Express teammate Jessica Wolf, as well as coach Blaine Carlson, the experience with the National Club Swimming Association All-Star team proved to be as much cultural as competitive.

"It was a good experience leading into Olympic trials for both those kids to swim a meet like this and know what it's like to travel," said Carlson, who guided Waukesha South/Mukwonago to a state championship last month. "It's a totally different culture, different food, you're not really in your comfort zone. We took the subway everywhere and there was a lot of walking around.

"Sometimes kids think everything has to be perfect to perform well. Both our girls did a really good job. They showed you can swim well when conditions aren't ideal. Twenty hours flying over there, and two days later you're competing."

Fantastic voyage

To get this far, both Meinholz and Wolf, a fellow senior at Muskego High School, had to qualify with results at two separate meets. The top 16 times in each event from the NCSA Jr. National meet in Orlando in March were eligible, and of those swimmers, the top two at the USA Jr. National Championships at Stanford University made the team.

Meinholz wasn't sure she had made the cut.

"I didn't have the greatest meet ever there (at Orlando), but I got to be in the pool (of possible entrants)," she said. "In the summer, I got seventh and eight in my events, but most of the girls who beat me had not competed in the March meet, so they weren't even part of the draw. I kind of got put in by default, but you had to compete in both meets. After my times and how I performed at the March meet, I didn't really think it was in reach, but then I had a really awesome meet. I didn't really realize you had to be at both meets."

With two qualifiers from the Express, Carlson was also invited along. He said he had been overseas to watch his swimmers perform, but never as a coach. Waukesha West graduate Emily Schwabe competed the previous year in Australia.

"I think for the U.S. kids, they were maybe at a disadvantage as far as the timing of the year," he said. "Kids come off their summer season in August (in the U.S.) and are just gearing back up. The Japanese selected this time and used it as a pretty big meet for them, but it's such a great opportunity and hard for anyone to pass up."

Wolf said she was, in fact, impacted by the 12-hour time difference.

"When I was swimming at noon, my body felt like it was midnight, and I was in a state of slumber," she said. "I learned to be strong and focus on my swims even though my eyes would close from exhaustion."

Rising sun and stars

The U.S. team swam against the Japanese and Australia team in competition. Meinholz said she was nervous but got a lift from participating in the 200-yard individual medley, which is not one of her usual events, before she swam in breaststroke events. Meinholz set the Division 2 state record in winning the breaststroke at this past month's WIAA state meet.

"You go behind the blocks, and they didn't do any English at the meet," she said. "You take your mark, and they say it in Japanese and give you a beep. Everyone was getting used to that in warmups, plus it was long course. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would be."

She was two seconds off her best time in the 100 breaststroke and a few seconds off her time in the 200, plus she competed in a second-place relay.

"I got some pretty sweet medals," she said. "They're probably close to an inch thick. They're massive, in the shape of a star, and on the front they have the date and time from the meet. On the back, they have a little piece of gold, silver or bronze. They're the coolest metals I've ever gotten."

Wolf said she was excited at the opportunity be surrounded by some of the country's most elite swimmers, and some of the best from around the world.

"The language barrier did not allow conversation with each other, but I followed their customs and bowed to the competitor before and after races." Wolf said. "There was an unspoken language of swimmers, and we showed each other great respect and honor."