Wawasee senior Julie Mishler returned home from the state meet in Indianapolis with two state titles and a state record in the 100 freestyle. Photo by Nathan Pace.

By Nathan Pace
InkFreeNews

It had been 13 years since Wawasee won a state championship in a swimming event but Wawasee senior Julie Mishler knew it was time to change that Saturday, Feb. 15, at the state swim meet. Mishler won the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle state titles at the Indiana University Natatorium to break the state title drought for Wawasee. Mishler, who has Olympic aspirations, views the state titles as an important stepping stone.

“I’m very proud of myself. There are a lot of things I could have done better; there are a lot of things that I did great. I’m proud of myself. I won,” Mishler said. “It’s been a long journey to get here and it’s going to be an even longer journey to get where my other goals are. I would say this is a good start for it.”

Mishler was state runner-up in 50 and the 100 backstroke her junior year but her improvement and training was on display for her senior season. She broke the state record in the 100 freestyle Friday, Feb. 14, in the preliminaries at a mark of 47.88 and broke it again in the finals Saturday at 47.86.

The first state title came in the 50 freestyle when Mishler swam a 21.87. It was slightly slower than her mark last year of 21.85, but she was over a second and half faster the second place.

“I’m disappointed in the 50 free, obviously, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I did win. I’m proud of the 100 free. It’s time my 100 free gets as good as my 50 free. I’ve worked so hard for that 100 free,” Mishler said.

Coach Jason Scott has seen the way Mishler prepares herself in practice and understands practice is where Mishler stands out compared to other state level swimmers.

“Champions normally hate to lose and they do the work when they don’t want to. Julie is one of those kids that have made a ton of sacrifices to get what she wanted,” Scott said. “I don’t think she has missed a single day of training in two years maybe. Hyper focused and not wanting to lose will take you a long way, especially when you have some talent to carry you there; wanting to be better and better all the time; never being complacent.”

Mishler has goals for not just how she swims at meets but every practice.

“If I don’t feel a pain in practice then I feel I didn’t practice to my full potential. It’s the same in a meet, if I feel like something didn’t go well. I immediately know what didn’t go well. I know what I need to work on in practice. Those parts will get better practice and eventually go better at a meet,” Mishler said.

Another advantage Mishler has built in her high school years is timing out when she breathes while swimming. For the 50 freestyle it is a rare occurrence to see the future Louisville Cardinal come up for air.

“It has a lot to do with underwater work. I also wear a nose plug. In the 100 free, I breathe every four,” Mishler said. “Most Olympians do that breathing count. It helps the oxygen get to your legs enough. In the 50 free, your mind doesn’t process it in time so you have to get over the fact that your fine; it’s only your brain saying you need oxygen, but your body does not actually need it.”

Mishler’s state titles are the first for Wawasee in any sport since 2015 when Clayton Cook won a title in track and field. Saturday’s state championships is the first in girls swimming since Brittany Robinson won the 100 butterfly in 2012.

While her high school career is completed, Mishler has a couple national events she will compete in prior to graduation. This includes the Speedo Sectionals, held annually at the same IU Natatorium in Indianapolis March 27-30.

Scott and the coaching staff add they are pleased to see Mishler end her Wawasee tenure with state titles.

“She swam the way she’s trained,” Scott said. “Which is the way you get them to do and you pray they finish that way and she did.”