Michelle Mehnert, University of Illinois Laboratory High School
When did you start swimming? How did you get started? What teams or clubs have you swum with?
Well, I guess you could say I started swimming when my parents first dropped me in the pool at 6 months old (here my parents want me to remind readers that this was with a parent-tot swim program). However, I started swimming competitively when I was 5 years old with the Sholem Sharks. After doing that for a couple of summers, I joined Aquachiefs and have been with the Y ever since. I also have swam with Indian Acres for a few summers, and Centennial HS when I went there freshman year.
Are you excited about your final year of swimming with your high school and the HEAT?
Yes, I am excited for my final year of swimming with the Heat and my final YMCA Nationals. My final year of HS swimming happened during my Freshman year. I�ve run Cross Country the past two swim seasons.
Why do you run cross country instead of swim for your high school?
A lot of factors went into that decision. It was really hard to leave HS Swimming, but because Uni High has such a large swim team and a small pool, it would have been hard for a club-level swimmer to improve. Cross Country allowed me to compete on a high school team, and might help me improve my swimming. My teammate, Drew Hauffe, followed this same strategy, and highly recommended that I give it a try. The Cross Country Coach, Doug Mynatt, was also very supportive of this idea, and all the girls on the team welcomed me with open arms. I admit that it was very difficult to be doing swimming/running doubles five times a week, but I�ll never forget all the wonderful people I�ve met through Cross Country.
What are your swimming goals for the year?
My main goal this year is to make it back for consoles or finals at Y Nationals in whatever events I can. I also want to qualify for four events.
What are your college plans? Will you swim? What do you plan to major in?
I am planning on swimming in college instead of running. I�m currently looking at Illinois and Notre Dame, but everything is still subject to change. As far as a major goes, I�m thinking of either Bioengineering or Civil Engineering.
What have you learned from swimming?
Hmm, it�s hard for me to pinpoint everything that I�ve learned over the years from swimming, or the people I�ve met through the sport. Swimming has taught me to take my training seriously, but to not take myself seriously. That after a race is over there is nothing you can do to change the past, only the future. Also that pain is nothing, and attitude really is everything. And of course, time management.
What is your favorite swimming memory?
I�ve got a couple really good ones: The first being my 8th grade Junior Olympic meet when Sarah Danenhower and I drove up to Kenosha (WI) Friday morning of the meet�at 3 AM. I remember stopping for pancakes and OJ on the way up, and then crashing at the hotel after swimming a best time in the 100 free. The second is finally making my first YNat cut in the 400IM. I did it in a time trial at the Unit 4 pool and basically swam the whole race alone. I remember being so psyched up for that race, I went out in a best time for the 100 fly.
What is your favorite event? Least favorite event?
Call me crazy, but my favorite event is the 400 IM. I�m also partial to any kind of 200. My least favorite would have to be the 50 free, every time I touch the wall after the race, I think to myself �What? That was it?�
What's your favorite movie? Favorite food? Favorite place?
As far as movies go, I really like any kind of period pieces (Seabiscuit, Catch Me If You Can & Gladiator), come to think of it, all of those are also underdog stories�
Food, mmmm. I like it all, but ice cream has to be my favorite, especially mint chocolate chip. Although, Beef House rolls are definitely a close second.
Place? Any Olympic site, I always get chills.
What 3 people would you invite to dinner?
Bill Bowerman (anyone who uses his wife�s waffle iron to start a global corporation has got to be worth meeting, and he�s a great coach), Carole Wright (I just want to be able to talk with her again), and Dean Karnazes (just read Ultra Marathon Man).
Tell us something about yourself that people might find surprising or interesting.
How about one of each?
Interesting: I have been All-State in Cross Country all five years that I have ran (19th -2001, 14th -2002, 14th -2003, 7th -2006, 3rd -2007), with a best time of 17:58 for three miles. I was also ranked as high as 23rd in the country as a triathlete this year.
Surprising: I am an incredible history/geography nerd. In addition to my two history classes this year, I used to study atlases, and can still draw a fairly accurate map of the US starting from a blank sheet.
