BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR
Kathleen Blumreich (BLOOM-RIKE) is a senior at Bay Port High School who recently completed her senior season with the swimming team, where she was a part of four consecutive Fox River Classic Conference championships.
In her spare time, she loves spending time with friends and family, baking and is active in the Sting Cancer Club at Bay Port.
Blumreich plans to attend Carroll University to study nursing and Spanish and hopes to swim in college.
Name: Kathleen Blumreich
Nickname: Kaiti, Bug
School: Bay Port
Sport: Swimming
Events: 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke
Parents: Rebecca and Scott
Twitter: @kaitiblumreich
Does anyone ever call you Kathleen?
“Not really – sometimes my friends do as a joke.”
Your high school swimming career is over … reflect.
“It’s been a really great four years, so I’m sad to see that it’s over. I’ve made so many new friends and this team has made me the person I am.”
At least you were a part of four consecutive Fox River Classic Conference titles!
“I wasn’t expecting that at all when I started, so I’m really proud of everything the team accomplished.”
Did you ever do other high school sports?
“I tried track my sophomore year, but running just wasn’t my thing. I do hope to do a triathlon with (Bay Port swimmer) Emily Baynes.”
Is there one you wish you had done?
“I feel like cross-country or tennis would have been fun, but they were both during swimming season.”
Tell me about your family.
“I have a younger brother named Gabriel who is 11 years old going to Lineville – he’s really smart. My mom was born in Massachusetts and moved here when she was 5 and grew up in Shawano. My dad traveled all over the place growing up.”
Do you come from a sports family?
“Gabriel plays baseball, my mom played volleyball and I don’t think my dad played any sports, but he was in the Army.”
Do you have a most memorable swimming moment?
“Winning the four FRCC titles was nice, but the Fond du Lac Invite this year was awesome. We weren’t sure if we were going to win.”
An embarrassing one?
“When I was younger, I was about to swim the 400 IM for club to get to state. I was stretching my arms back – my hands were in a fist – and I accidentally punched my timer in the face. I ended up making state, though.”
What is the hardest swimming stroke in your mind?
“For me, it’s the backstroke. I can’t get my arms to go fast enough.”
What’s your specialty?
“I feel I’m pretty good at breaststroke – I have a good rhythm for it.”
Have you ever dove?
“I don’t know how the divers do it – I’d be so bad.”
What is something about you most people wouldn’t know?
“We do have cable TV, but I really haven’t watched TV in like three or four years.”
I bet that’s kind of liberating?
“It really is. It gives me a lot more free time and it’s less distracting. It’s nice not having to clear my schedule to watch a show. If I’m not working, I will watch the Packers play.”
What three words best describe you?
“Hard-working, kind, positive.”
When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“I wanted to be a veterinarian, but that changed after my mom told me I’d have to put animals down. I don’t have the heart to do that.”
Do you have any pets now?
“I have a dog named Maizy who is a rescue from Alabama. She’s a boxer-labrador mix.”
How will Kaiti Blumreich be remembered at Bay Port?
“I want to be remembered as a person who tried to brighten other people’s days and was nice to everyone.
Mountaintop or cave?
“Mountaintop.”
Spring or winter?
“Spring.”
Sunrise or sunset?
“Sunset.”
Booth or table?
“Booth.”
Early bird or night owl?
“Night owl.”
Favorites
Food: Fajitas
Athlete: Katie Ledecky
Phone app: Snapchat
Board game: Monopoly
Holiday: Christmas
Editor’s note: Check out the last Bay Port senior spotlight on Lucien Petit.