Standing behind the blocks, Claire Eisele gets ready to race as the natatorium roars with cheers. Filled with excitement, she adjusts her swim cap to prepare for her four events –unheard of as a sophomore.

Swimming at the state meet — “a crazy and great experience.”

Currently a junior on the swim team, Claire wants to continue the momentum of the last season as she hopes to not only swim the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle or 50 freestyle at state, but bring down all three of those team records and leave her legacy.

As a leader and driven competitor Claire excels in the pool because of her work ethic.

Her workout regimen includes:

swimming between 10 and 16 hours a week,

lifting weights,

building core,

increasing cardio endurance.

More over, clean eating and living a healthy lifestyle are important to her and fuel her body to race. In addition to the work she puts in outside of the pool, she loves to be challenged at practice by hard sets and swimming against teammates.

“Practicing with others and telling myself that I know I can do it is how I can get to my goals.”

As her teammates and coaches help her, she continues to learn new things and apply them until she swims her best.

Reflecting on what being a Rocket means to her, Claire feels honored to represent the school and athletic program in the pool.

In accord with her hard work, her dream of swimming at state becomes reality. Claire embodies everything that a Neenah Rocket should be: respectful, hardworking, caring and dedicated.

With these qualities, she will make Neenah proud as she wears the Rocket swim cap for yet another state meet.