By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
Name: Ryan Van Dyck
Parents: John & Paula Van Dyck
Activity: Swimming
Ryan Van Dyck is a senior swimmer for the Ashwaubenon Jaguars.
He likes to work on project cars, have bonfires with friends and shoot photography.
Van Dyck lists winning sectionals his freshman year, despite having a small team, as his most memorable moment.
What is it like to be a leader on the swim team at Ashwaubenon High School? “Being a captain is a big responsibility but is super rewarding. I get to interact with kids from different grade levels that I might not have ever met or had the chance to get to know. I get to share some of the experiences I’ve had over the past 12 years of competitive swimming as well as some of the life lessons that I’ve learned through the sport and from my amazing coaches.”
If you could wear any type of swim gear during a race (no matter what the cost) what would it be? “Michael Phelps’ XCEED goggles, XPRESSO USA special edition tech suit and a RACE USA special edition silicone cap.”
What is your most embarrassing moment ever in swimming? “A few years back, I was swimming the mile race at a club meet and the student running my counter messed up the length I was on, so I swam an extra 50 yards after I had already finished the race. I was super disappointed because I thought I came in dead last and my coach was super confused why I wasn’t happy about the race. Nobody told me I actually won the race for like two days.”
What’s the hardest part about performing in a swim meet? “Mentally preparing for each race individually and pushing through race after race being tired.”
What is your favorite thing about the new Ashwaubenon swimming pool? “Having more space. The old pool had five lanes that were significantly smaller in width, so we were really packed into the lanes for a long time.”
If you could be somebody for a day, who would it be? “My coach Jim Merner. I think it would be cool to see swimming from the perspective of somebody like him having had a successful swim career of his own and decades of coaching experience, recruiting and success.”
Do you have a nickname or something a teammate calls you during a game? “My freshman year a lot of the team called me ‘shark bait’ because I was small.”
A big win in front of a sparse crowd or a narrow defeat in front of thousands cheering you on? “There’s nothing more rewarding than winning a race after all the hours training with just your teammates, so I would definitely take the win.”
What is your favorite event? “The 500 freestyle.”
What is one thing that other teammates or coaches don’t know about you? “I was very close to hanging up the towel my sophomore and junior year.”
What are your college aspirations? “I am attending a four-year mechanical engineering school. As for swimming, the journey ends with this season.”
What is your favorite event ever attended? “James Taylor/Eagles concerts.”
What is your favorite type of music? “Country/oldies.”
What is your favorite thing to do on your phone? “Take pictures when I’m away from my camera.”
What three words describe you? “Adventurous, driven, hungry.”
What is your favorite trip ever taken? “Hiking to Spirit Lake in Colorado.”
How hard is it to actually breathe while swimming a grueling race? “It depends on the race and if the pool has a good air exchanger, but it’s probably pretty comparable to trying to run with a bag full of water over your head.”
Favorites
Food: Watermelon
Subject: Math/engineering
Color: Yellow
TV Show: “How I Met Your Mother”
Athlete: Michael Phelps
City: Bar Harbor, Maine (near Acadia National Park)
Season: Fall