By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent
Name Kyra Goedken
Sport Swimming
What is it like to be a leader on the swim team at Ashwaubenon? “It is very rewarding to be looked up to by such a kind and experienced group of ladies. My team is my family and I can only hope that I was the role model they needed to be the best team they could be. I love my team, and I just want to thank them for always being there for me.”
What is your most embarrassing moment ever in swimming? “It happened my junior year. We were about halfway through practice and I needed to use the restroom. When I came back, I was walking really fast and I slipped on the side of the pool and fell in. I bruised my inner-thigh but it made everyone laugh. I was crying from the pain, but it was so ridiculous that I can laugh about it now.”
How many years have you been involved in swimming? “I’ve been swimming competitively since I was 6 years old. I started on a club team called Green Bay Swim Club. After a week, I transferred to the Ashwaubenon Swim Club and I swam there up until about 2 years ago when the club got a new coach. I am currently with the Green Bay YMCA Swim Club.”
What is your most memorable moment in swimming? “My junior season was a very eventful year for me especially at one of our first dual meets against Sheboygan North. They have always been a nice and fast team. We were very low on swimmers last year. Our team had about 17 swimmers total. With this low number, we weren’t able to win as many meets as usual so any win was a rejoiced victory. This meet against Sheboygan North was neck-and-neck for the entire meet. It came down to the last event of the night, the relay. I was the last swimmer in the relay and I was about the same speed as the girl next to me. At the end, I just out-touched her on the wall. We won the meet and everyone was cheering for me. It was one of the best moments of my life.”
What’s the hardest aspect about swimming? “The hardest part about swimming is practicing so early in the morning and twice a day. Especially when the practices are about 7,000 yards a night.”
If you could be somebody for one day, who would it be? “I’d want to be Michael Phelps, so I could feel how it feels to be so fast in the pool.”
What are your college aspirations? “I hope to go to UW Stevens Point for my major in environmental science. I do hope to swim in college.”
What would be your dream job once you graduate? “My dream job would be an Oceanographer or a Wildlife Ecologist.”
What are your hobbies? “I enjoy drawing, painting and swimming.”
What is your favorite sporting event ever attended? “I love attending Packer Games.”
What is your favorite kind of music? “My favorite artists are Dave Matthews and Eddie Vedder… so Alternative Rock.”
What is your favorite thing to do on your phone? “Facetime my long-distance boyfriend in the Air Force who is stationed in Illinois.”
What three words best describe you? “Lighthearted, Caring, and Honest”
What is your favorite trip(s) ever taken? “My family’s 2016 trip to St. George Island, just off the panhandle of Florida.”
Favorites:
Food:
Very difficult question. Spaghetti and Meatballs from Noodles and Company
Subject:
Science/Art
TV Show:
Friends
Athlete:
Katie Ledecky
Candy:
Reeses
Ice Cream:
Bubble Gum
Holiday:
Christmas/ Halloween
Season:
Summer
Jaguar Head Swim Coach Jennifer Steffel, “I have been watching Kyra since her younger days on Ashwaubenon Swim Club. She has a genuine love for the sport and her passion comes out both while training and racing. She has been a key factor to the team’s tremendous success over the past 4 years. She is a versatile swimmer who is competitive in multiple events. Kyra is a good distance and middle-distance swimmer, but she also is great in the butterfly and sprint freestyle events. Her presence and talent will be missed next season.”