Julie Mishler, seen at the state meet, just barely breaks the surface of the water during the backstroke. Photo by Nathan Pace.

By Nathan Pace
InkFreeNews

The goal of making the U.S Olympic team is in play for a Wawasee student the next week. Julie Mishler recently concluded her junior year at Wawasee and half of her summer vacation is dedicated to trying out for the U.S. Olympic team.
Mishler will take part in the trials for Team USA in Indianapolis with events beginning on Saturday, June 15.
“I have big goals that I want to achieve,” Mishler said. “My main goal is to make the Olympic team. If I don’t make the Olympic team my next goal would be to make the National team.”
Also on the table for Mishler is making the Junior National Team. The junior squad will have an international competition in Australia this August.
Mishler will compete in three events; the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
All events will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Indianapolis Colts play home games. It is the first time the Olympic trials will be held in a football venue with seating available for up to 30,000 spectators. Three pools have been installed in the stadium with millions of gallons of water poured.
“It’s definitely going to be a new experience,” Mishler said on swimming at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I am so excited to swim there and be a part of this cool experience.”
Mishler’s first event will be the 100 backstroke on Monday, June 17. The 100 freestyle is next on Tuesday, June 18. Her final event might be her best chance at qualifying in the 50 freestyle on Saturday, June 22.
“The event I want to make is the 50 free,” Mishler said.
Mishler was second at the state meet in the 50 free on Feb. 10. She broke the existing state record with her performance 21.85 but Penn senior Lilian Christianson also broke the state record with a faster time of 21.72. Mishler will enter as a clear favorite to win the 50 next year at the state meet and become Wawasee’s first state champion in any sport since 2015. Mishler was also second in the 100 backstroke at state.
Preliminary heats for the Olympic trials will start at 11 a.m. with the finals taking place at 7:45 p.m. Fans can watch the action from Kosciusko County with the finals airing on NBC during primetime. The USA Network will air the preliminary competition as will the streaming service Peacock.
The Olympic Trials are not too far from where Mishler trains for club season in Fishers. She says she travels to Fishers at least once a week to train with her club the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers.
Mishler is committed to the University of Louisville for swimming after high school and will likely try out again for the Olympic team in 2028 as well. Her chances of qualifying for Team USA are expected to be higher after earning college experience.
Mishler committed to the University of Louisville prior to the start of her junior season. A school she did not think she would take a visit to until passing through the city with her sister Alexis. Alexis swims at Florida Gulf Coast University and is a 2023 Wawasee grad. Julie saw the campus at Louisville and made the commitment after her visit.
“It was kind of fast,” Mishler said. “I was in the recruitment process from June to October before I made my commitment. It was stressful but it was also fun at the same time. I actually didn’t know if I was going to go visit Louisville. I told myself I need to take a visit there. I like it there.”

Wawasee swimmer Julie Mishler has won countless awards at the Wawasee natatorium but will now try to find success at the sport’s biggest stage this month and qualify for the Olympics. Photo by Nathan Pace.