Many of you
may have noticed the signs at the pool talking about the road to
Omaha. Why Omaha?
For those in the know, Omaha will be the center of American
Swimming in 2008. That's because the 2008 Olympic Trials will be
held there!
The Waukesha Express Swim Team is the only age-group program in
the state of Wisconsin that currently
has seven swimmers qualified for the 2008
Trials. Express is also the only program in
Wisconsin that has multiple athletes aged 18 and younger qualified
for the meet - we don't have to rely on current or post-college age
athletes to represent us at Trials (but we have a few of those
talented individuals as well!) We are very proud of the fact
that since 2005, we have qualified at least one athlete for the
Olympic Trials per year. Those athletes are...
Kyle Bubolz swam for Express since he was eight
years old through his high school years. He has continued to
represent the Express Swim Team outside of the collegiate swimming
season. A recent graduate of Northwestern University, Kyle
has had a tremendous swimming career so far. Some of the his
most notable accomplishments as a member of the Express Swim Team
include: 2003 USA National Jr. Team Member (competed in
Sydney, Australia), 6 time National Age Group record holder, 18 and
Under National Champion in the 100 m Freestyle at 2003 USA Summer
National Championships. As a collegiate athlete Kyle has won
numerous Big Ten titles, been All-American, NCAA champion and
record holder. Kyle will be competing in Omaha in the 50
Meter Freestyle, the 100 Meter Freestyle, and the 100 Meter
Butterfly.
Katie Imhoff-Smith swam for Express during her
middle and high school years. Katie is a college sophmore who
currently swims for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the
summer of 2005, Katie came home to train with Head Coach Blaine
Carlson and achieved her Trials cut in the 100 Meter Butterfly.
Stephanie Sarandos, a current member of the
Senior Team at Express, qualified for the 2008 Trials in the 200
Meter Backstroke at the 2006 USA Junior National Championships,
finishing second overall. Stephanie also set the Wisconsin 15-16
Girls State Record with that swim! Stephanie also qualified
the 100 Meter Backstroke in a time trial at the 2007 USA Short
Course National Championships.
Beckie Thompson, another current member of the
Express Senior Team, qualified for the 2008 Trials in the 50 Meter
Freestyle at the 2007 USA Swimming Spring Championships, finishing
fifth overall. Beckie also set the Wisconsin 15-16 Girls
State Record with that swim!
Kyle Thompson, a current member of the Express
Senior Team who will be entering his first year of college in 2007
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, re-qualified his Olympic
Trial cut in the 200 Meter Butterfly at the 2007 USA Swimming
Junior National Championships held at the IUPUI Natatorium in
Indianapolis, IN. Kyle finished 8th overall with the
swim!
Wes Lagerhausen, another current member of the
Express Senior Team, qualified for Olympic Trials in the 100 Meter
Freestyle at the 2007 USA Swimming Junior National Championships
held in early August at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis,
IN. Wes finished 4th overall at the meet with that
swim! Wes will be a Senior in High School for the 2007-08
season, and is a member of the 2008 USA Swimming National Junior
Team competing in Melbourne, Australia in January, 2008.
Emily Schwabe, another current member of the
Express Senior Team, qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 200
Meter Breaststroke only hours before the meet entry deadline at the
2008 Summer WGLO Meet at the Schroeder YMCA. Emily will be a
junior at Waukesha West High School in the fall of 2008.
Emily's swim broke the existing Wisconsin 15-16 year old State
Record.
There are many swimmers who are currently swimming with the
Express program who have the ability to make these cuts - but who
will be next? Maybe it will be you! I have attached images of the
bid package Omaha presented USA Swimming with when they were
awarded the bid. Check them out and start to dream! Every great
achievement begins with a dream.
In the words of Orison Marden: "Our thoughts and imaginations are
the only real limits to our
possibilities."
