Senior spotlight: Rachel Dallman's leadership for Tomahawk goes beyond pool, field
TOMAHAWK - Rachel Dallman's leadership for the Tomahawk girls swim team goes beyond her performances in the pool.
"She is a valedictorian of her class. It starts there," Tomahawk coach Theresa L'Esperance said during practice Monday.
Dallman has qualified for the WIAA state girls swim meet the past four years and is part of Tomahawk's 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams which set program marks in 2015.
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"She has a quiet presence — very quiet and calm," L'Esperance said of Dallman's typical demeanor as a swimmer. "She has a level-headed thinking that's truly the best I have had. She is just always mentally ready (as a swimmer) and is confident. She is just steady."
A pitcher for the Tomahawk softball team as well, she was a unanimous selection to the all-Great Northern Conference team last spring.
She is a captain for a Tomahawk swim team that is ranked third in Division 2 in this week's Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association state poll and is undefeated in the GNC.
Dallman recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about her athletic highlights, how she prepares for each meet and game and why she hopes to go to Australia someday, among other topics.
Do you have a nickname which your friends, teammates or family call you?
Just 'Rach' for the most part. There was a joke during softball a few years ago when I hit my first (high school) home run and it was, Rachel "Dinger" Dahlman.
What has been your most memorable sports moment?
My sophomore year when we got fourth on our (200 free) relay and got the chance to stand on the podium (at state). That was just really cool.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals you go through before a meet or a game?
While standing on the block (in swimming), I press my goggles on super hard and make sure they are perfect and not foggy or anything and then I always (bend back) my hands. It absolutely has nothing to do with swimming but it is almost (subconscious).
Is swimming the most stressful of sports for you?
The meets are. Being a pitcher (in softball) everyone is focused on you, but I don't really think about that. Being out in the center (of the field) doesn't really bother me. Whereas in swimming, you think about how everyone is staring at you on the blocks. When I went to state last year and was in my first individual event, I was standing behind the block waiting for my heat to come up and my whole body was shaking, I was so nervous. I have never got like that for softball.
Are you a swimmer first or a softball player?
I have spent a lot more of my time over the past few years with swim with practice but I like softball more. The practices are just way easier (in softball).
Do you have certain teammates which you will especially miss after this season?
Our team manager (Maren Ugolini) is my best friend and basically like a sister to me. I got her to join last year. She wasn't going to do it at first, but we had a clothing order (for the team) and I told her I would buy her a bucket hat if she would be our manager. There are two girls on the team, Kylee Theiler and Katy Volz. We have all been going down to Wausau for the past six years to practice in the winter and over the summer.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Zac Efron.
Where is your dream vacation?
I have always wanted to go to Australia. When I was little I loved kangaroos.
What is your dream career?
Right now, I have been interested in radiology and actually job shadowed a radiologist and really loved it.
FAVORITES
Sport: Softball.
Pro or college athlete: (Olympic swimmers) Katie Ledecky and Pernille Blume.
Musicial group or artist: Fall Out Boy, OneRepublic, Kesha, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift.
TV show: "Grey's Anatomy"
Movie: "The Notebook" and "The Fault in Our Stars."
Meal: Spaghetti.