Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight: Bryanna Bellile, Ashwaubenon swimming

By Greg Bates
SPORTS EDITOR
Name: Bryanna Bellile

Parents: Lisa and Ben Bellile

Activity: Swimming

Nicknames: Bry

Instagram: @BryBellile

Bry has been swimming competitively since she was 6 years old. She’s a three-year varsity member for Ashwaubenon, missing her sophomore year because of COVID. That season she swam for the club team Mid-Wisconsin Wave Makers. Bry holds seven school records — four individually and three with relays. She is also the Fox River Classic Conference record-holder for three individual events: 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle.

How has swimming club helped you become a better swimmer?

“One thing is that it helps you stay in shape, because you’re swimming year-round. And club has given me a lot of opportunities to travel and compete against a lot of different competition around the nation.”
You’re coming off a really success junior season competing at state.

“Last year in my 100 freestyle, I got second place and in my 200 freelance, I got fourth place. I was on two relays — I was on the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay, and both of those relays took second place.”

How much fun was it to get three second-place finishes last year?

“It was very exciting, especially with my relays. Being able to compete with these girls and get second place was just an amazing experience. None of those were seniors last year, so all of us will be competing with those relays against this year. I’m really excited.”

Hopefully you do well at sectionals and can head back to state.

“I’m just excited to see what we can do again this year.”

Do you have a place in mind this year for state?

“We’re just trying to swim faster than we did last year and whatever place that gets us we’re just going to try to compete against the competition.”

Are you confident you can win the state title in the 100 freestyle this year after placing second last year?

“There’s a lot of great competition and I’m going to try to do my absolute best that I can do that day.”

Is the 100 freestyle your best shot to win a state title or one of the relays?

“Most likely. It could be either of them.”

What do you need to do in the next few weeks leading up to state to give yourself a best shot to win a state title?

“We have conference (Oct. 29) and then the week after that sectionals, so just keep the grind going and training as hard as I can coming up with these next meets.”

You are swimming in college, correct?

“Yes. I’m verbally committed to Florida Atlantic University. It’s a Division I school in Boca Raton, Fla.”

Why Florida Atlantic?

“I took a visit there and when I visited, I liked the coaches, I liked the swimmers and it was just a place that I thought me as a swimmer would fit best at.”

Do you know what you want to major in in college?

“I plan on majoring with something with graphic design and marketing.”

What do you like to do away from swimming and school?

“Some of my hobbies are, I’m very big into crystals, so I collect crystals. I also enjoy drawing and painting just for fun.”

How did you get into collecting crystals?

“My dad has been like collecting rocks forever. I guess he would always give me some of his cool crystals that he found. But I kind of learned more about (rocks) over quarantine.”

Do you have a couple favorite crystals?

“My favorite one is probably I would say amethyst.”

How big is your collection?

“I would say very big. My mom would say too big and that I don’t need anymore.”

Do you display your collection?

“I have like two shelves full of them. Then I have some like by my bed and just all over my desk, and they have kind of ventured all over the house.
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So what will you do when you go to college — will you take some of them with you?

“I’ve already been thinking about it, because I know I can’t bring my whole collection. So it’s something I’ve been stressing about, thinking about which ones I’m going to bring.”

What’s one word that describes you?

“Resilient. I have gone through a lot of ups and downs in my life and have kept going through it all.”

If you could be one person for a day, who would it be?

“I would be Zendaya. She is very talented in many ways and is someone I’ve idolized since I was younger.”

What’s the most important thing in your life right now?

“Probably just enjoying my last high school swim season.”

What’s your favorite thing about school?

“Right now I’m in a ceramics class, which I find really interesting. I’m in a women in gender studies class, which not a lot of high schools have. It’s a very interesting class and I’m glad to be able to take it.”

Do you follow any major professional sports?

“I don’t really watch those sports, but, obviously, I would have to say the Packers, if I were to say anything. You can’t live in Green Bay and not be a Packers fan.”