Freedom (NBC 26)-with a mixture of the highest level talent and relentless work ethics, the Girls High School High School athletics team strives for the second state title.
Despite the fact that it is a petite school, the Irish are impressive on the Wisconsin track. The team consists of two obligations of NCAA Division and: Elder Claire Helmila, who heads for Northern Illinois University, and Lydia Merrick, who is involved at the University of Pennsylvania.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Division and Kimberly, Kaukauna’s program, or is it a small town of Division III,” said coach James Finster. “For example, we set ourselves next to everyone and we will give us what is in our power. And I think that this way of thinking of our children is day and day, we sit there, compete and become better.”
Although athletics are often seen as an individual sport, athletes say that the Freedom program is developing in the field of teamwork and divided goals.
“We don’t care about one event very much, and it really helps, especially on the state level, to get points from each area,” said Helmila, who competes in sprints in half the distance and long sprints.
Merrick, who specializes in high jump, obstacles and sprints, agreed.
“I think that we succeeded so much, and then we are all excited. And then we see how someone was successful, for example, long jump or push, which makes us want to do better in this event,” said Merrick. “Or maybe we lack this event, so we want to compensate for our teammates.”
This team’s mentality paid off last season. Despite the fact that they did not win any individual state titles, the Irish people scored enough points to connect Rice Lake for the Division 2 team championships.
Finster coach assigns the group -oriented culture.
“We have children who work hard,” he said. “I said it earlier, they actually run through a brick wall. If we said today that we would run through brick walls for exercise, they would do it. Even playfully.”
Even with comical moments-how hunting Easter eggs during the last practice-the spare remains closed for its purposes.
“We have one of the best trainers in this state. I probably think they are the best trainers,” said Helmila. “And I think that they simply lead our practice and run our team like a university team. You know, we are all very devoted to this sport and are very devoted to sport.”
After returning almost every athlete from last year’s championship list, Merrick believes that the team is ready to take another step forward.
“We have basically everyone who made them found,” she said. “So just having these girls plus some are just very hopeful.”
