SWIMMING

Senior spotlight: Jordan Straub brings experience for Wausau East boys swim team

Tim Johnson
Wausau Daily Herald

WAUSAU – Jordan Straub is somewhat retrospective in the final boys swimming season of his high school career. 

Wausau East's Jordan Straub is one of three seniors on the Lumberjacks boys swim team and qualified for the WIAA state meet last winter as a junior.

"The biggest thing is there is no real secret," said the Wausau East senior, who also is part of the Lumberjacks cross country and track teams. "The more you run, the better you are going to get at running. The more you swim, the better you are going to get at swimming. That is something I wish I would have thought about back in middle school.

"If someone would beat me in a race back then, I would just accept that he was just better. I don't do that anymore."

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Straub is a four-year varsity veteran for the swim team and the most experienced swimmer on what is an overall young team this winter.

Straub, who is one of three seniors on the Lumberjacks roster, qualified for the WIAA state meet in the Division 2 100 yard butterfly last season, the first time he advanced beyond the sectionals. 

"The thing is that you can depend on Jordan in anything that he swims in. Whatever he is in, he has a shot to win," East coach Derek Steinke said. "This is my third year with him and I have really been able to see him grow (as a swimmer). There is a little edge to him now and he knows that hard work pays off and he is passing that down to the younger guys."

Straub recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his swimming career, the traditions the Lumberjacks boys swim team has before a home meet and some of his future plans, among other topics. 

What has been your most memorable sports moment?

A big one was qualifying for state last year in swimming. 

Outside of sports or school, is there something that people might not know about you?

I do a lot of disc golfing with my friends. 

Any pre-race superstitions or routines you go through?

In cross country, I like to sleep in my racing shorts the night before a meet. In swimming before a home meet, we always head to Subway and get a sandwich.

Do you have a certain sub that is your go-to?

The same one every time. The Italian BMT.

Do you visualize your race before you step up on the starting blocks?

I just try to focus on the pool and keep everything else away. Try not to think about anything else. 

You are one of the veteran swimmers on a pretty young team. What do you like about this year's group?

There is a lot of new swimmers this year. It's a challenge but it's fun because there is so much improvement they can make throughout the year and I can help guide them through that and answer questions that they have. That is really fun for me. 

You qualified for the state meet last year. What are your season goals this winter?

I would really love to qualify a relay to state this year. That is it. That is my biggest goal. Not just make it as an individual, I want a relay to go to state. 

Do you know what your postgraduation plans are?

I'm still looking but have pretty much narrowed it down between UW-Milwaukee and UW-La Crosse. I would like to run cross country and track eventually at one of (the schools).

If you could go anywhere, where would your dream vacation be?

Spain. I like the geography.

FAVORITES

Sport: At this point, I would say cross country and track. Freshman year, I was more into swimming but that has changed. 

Pro or college athlete: Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. I would say more Rodgers, though, just because I am a Packers fan. 

Music group or artist: I don't know if I have a favorite but (the go-to) is probably Childish Gambino.

Movie: "Top Gun."

Food or meal: Pasta.