Zachary Wenger '24 Recruiting Profile

My name is Zachary Wenger. I live in Manchester, Iowa where I get my education. But my school doesn't have a swim team available to swim at, so since the age of 6, I've driven an hour away to Dubuque to pursue my dream. I currently swim at Hempstead High School for my club team (DASH) and my high school team (HHS). With all the driving I have to do to practice, it would be assumed that I can't do much else for extracurriculars, but I like to do different things. I'm involved in Jazz Band, Show Choir, and Cross Country during the fall, where I am currently seeded as the number 1 runner on the team, and I am actively helping the community with my church's youth group.

Even with everything I have, I strive to do my best. This year I have been an alternate for the All-State Choir in Iowa, I was accepted into the National Honor Society, and I have also gotten my city's Athlete of the Week for my performances in Cross Country. In every activity I have done, I have always put in 100%, but in swimming, I put 110%. 

My history of swimming started when my older brother wanted to swim for a team called DASH over in Dubuque, and occasionally my brother and I would have to ride with our parents because we were never trusted alone at home. I always remember those days when I would race the big kids across the pool, though I was running and they were swimming, and the times when I could be the starter during test sets. The thrill of watching pushed me to become a swimmer when I was old enough. Then, when I turned 6, I hopped straight onto Dubuque's club team and started swimming. Eight years later, I still can't find a reason for quitting this sport! It's made me a better person both in and out of the water and has allowed me to push through some of my hardest moments.

At the start of my high school swim season as a sophomore, I decided to undergo surgery that would put me out for about three weeks of swimming. I couldn't run, lift, swim, or exert any effort on a task. Still, I knew what I had to do to get back into shape. Three weeks later, I was back in the water and pushing myself to get back in shape. Then a week later, I got COVID. This destroyed me. In total, I had lost five weeks of essential training that I could never get back. This put me down a hole that was hard to get out of, but getting back into the water after COVID felt relieving. So I told myself one day that no matter what, five weeks were not going to determine my season. In the end, I dropped 6 seconds in the 500 FR (5:04) and 2 seconds in the 200 IM (2:09), but I missed the State meet by a second in the 500. So I decided to work hard to obtain State and get closer to the ultimate goal of my high school years, Hempstead's record, a 4:42 or faster. This year I dropped 12 seconds in the 500 FR (4:52) and 5 seconds in the 200 IM (2:04) and I plan on dropping another 10+ in the 500 and 5+ in the 200 IM for my senior year. 

Swimming has always been my favorite, and I enjoy every bit of it. Whether it relays during practices, water polo during holidays, or even grueling distance sets that burn every muscle in your body. I'm committed to this sport, and I will do whatever I need to do in order to succeed no matter the pain.