Meinholz as good as gold

Posted: Nov. 16, 2011

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Russ Pulvermacher

Catholic Memorial's Anna Meinholz competes in the breaststroke on her way to a state title at the Division 2 swimming state meet Nov. 11.

Russ Pulvermacher

Catholic Memorial's Anna Meinholz competes in the breaststroke on her way to a state title at the Division 2 swimming state meet Nov. 11.

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It would be an understatement to say that Anna Meinholz saved her best for last on Friday at the WIAA Division 2 state high school girls swim meet at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.

Meinholz, a senior at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, closed out her highly successful high school swim career by not only winning the 100-yard breaststroke, but winning it in a new state record time. The drama in which the race played out couldn't have been a more fitting end for the hard-working longtime swimmer from Oconomowoc.

Going into the race, four swimmers had the credentials to win the event. Meinholz was one of those along with the current state record-holder Kate Criter of Plymouth, Samantha Senczyszyn of Grafton and Emma Bare of Fort Atkinson. On paper, the breaststroke appeared to have the makings of the most competitive race at this year's state meet.

And much to the delight of packed house at the Natatorium, the race turned out to be as good as advertised.

With all four of those swimmers going head-to-head for the entire race, it was Meinholz who survived one of the closest finishes in the history of the meet. The former St. Jerome's grade school student touched out at 1:03.06. That was one-hundredth of a second ahead of Senczyszyn (1:03.07) and four-hundredths of a second ahead of Bare (1:03.10). Criter, the defending champion in the race who had set the school record last year, was one second back in fourth.

"That was just a crazy finish," Meinholz said. "It was so loud in there; to be honest, I wasn't sure at first whether I had won it or not. Then I saw that I did indeed win and it felt great, and it even got better when I saw that I had set the state record."

To think she did all that in her final high school race made it even more special. Her coach at CMH just happens to be her father, Dan.

"To win her final high school race and set a state record at the same time meant a lot to Anna, to her teammates and to everyone in our family," her father said. "It was very emotional for all of us, but in a good way. Her two brothers and mom were in the stands, and they got to be part of it. Anna has worked very hard in the pool, and for her to close out her high school career like that is something none of us will ever forget."

The only family member missing on Friday was her older sister Elle. And guess where she was that day? She was swimming for the Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern.

Meinholz, who will swim at Wisconsin next year, almost hit the daily double Friday. Before winning the breaststroke, she placed second in the 200 individual medley. Bridgette Alexander of Milton won that event with a time of 2:05.30, and Meinholz was next at 2:06.33. That was her personal best time in the IM.

"I knew going into the meet that the breaststroke was my chance to win," Meinholz said. "But I thought if I had my best race, I might win the IM too. Bridgette and I are very good friends, so losing to her wasn't bad at all. She's a very humble person and very nice person. We've had some very friendly competition over the years."

Swimming at the state meet was nothing new for the future Badger. In her four-year career, she's qualified for state in eight individual events and two relays. As a freshman, she swam on the state championship 200 medley relay along with her sister Elle, Ashley Majewski and Lauren Schoendorf.

Meinholz was looking to elevate one last spot in the breaststroke. In 2008, she finished third in that race (1:04.13), and in 2009 she was second (1:04.71). Last year, she lost to Criter with a time of 1:03.68. In that same span, she placed third in the IM in 2008 (2.09.09), fourth in 2009 (2:09.00) and second last year (2:08.02).

"My focus all year was on winning the breaststroke," Meinholz said. "That was definitely my goal. But what I really wanted to do was go to state and swim my best times in both races. I knew it was going to be my last high school meet and I just wanted to have my best races. To win the breaststroke in state record time was just crazy."

Swimming is a big part of the Meinholz family. Besides the successes of Anna and Elle, both Dan and mother Amy swam for the Badgers in their day. Amy won a Big Ten championship in the breaststroke while swimming at UW.

"It's kind of a family affair for us," Anna said. "When I was a freshman and my sister and I were on the podium for winning the relay, and my dad was coach, it was really special. To have all of us on the deck at once is something that I'll never forget."