SWAT Southwest Aquatic Team – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

There has been a lot of negative news coming out of Greenfield with the breaking story this weekend about a swim coach that worked in several SE Wisconsin communities.  I just wanted to reflect and take a minute to  say that during my high school years I spent 3 years swimming for the Whitnall Boys Swim Team and I also swam with SWAT-Southwest Aquatic Team.  My coach Mark Schrank and assistant coach Dave were some of the most influential people that I associated with during my high school years.  I look back at the time I spent in the pool as a truely transformative experience.  The guidance, leadership, dedication and camaraderie,  helped our team win several conference championships during my time in the program.  I still enjoy showing off the team conference photos hanging in the halls at Whitnall High School when I have the chance.  I still attend the annual alum meet that is held at the high school when I have the chance.  I look back on the early morning swim practices, the christmas day and new years day practices with fond memories.  I still on occasion see Mark and his Brother Dale I see several times a week when walking my daughter to and from the grade school.  It’s great to get reports on the things that are going on with the programs they are involved with.  Dave was telling me today that the Marquette High School Boys Swim Team finished 5th at state this year out of 33 teams.  I was just looking on the WIAA website and it shows that Whitnall finished 11th in their division out of 31 teams.