Lauschke Making Splash For Lady Mounties

Freshman Competes Constantly

Rogers’ Lisa Lauschke swims in the 200 freestyle on Jan. 31 during the Bentonville Invitational Meet inside The Jones Center in Springdale.
Rogers’ Lisa Lauschke swims in the 200 freestyle on Jan. 31 during the Bentonville Invitational Meet inside The Jones Center in Springdale.

— Rogers High freshman Lisa Lauschke has a full plate.

She gets up four times a week before the sun rises to practice with the Lady Mounties swim team. She then goes to track and cross country practice after school before hitting the pool again five times a week with her club team.

That hectic schedule has the 5-foot-3 Lauschke thinking one thing.

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Lisa Lauschke

SCHOOL: Rogers High

CLASS: Freshman

NOTABLE: Has already qualified for three individual events at the upcoming state swim meet. ... Also runs cross country and track and field. ... Finished 13th at the Class 7A State Cross Country Meet in November.

“I eat a lot,” Lauschke said. “I also try and get lots of rest. I just try to work hard at every practice.”

Despite being just 14 years old, Lauschke has made a big impact for the Lady Mounties. She has already qualified for three individual events at the upcoming state swim meet, and she could compete on one of three relay teams.

Lauschke is going to try and qualify for a fourth individual event Wednesday when she also competes in the 500 freestyle at the 7A/6A-West Conference swim meet at The Jones Center in Springdale. The Lady Mounties freshman needs to improve on her best effort by four seconds to qualify for the state meet.

She has already qualified in the 100 free, the 200 free and 100 backstroke.

Lauschke said competing against older competition has helped her improve her times. Lauschke recently teamed with Kimi Davis, Megan Piotrowski and Maggie Montoya to set a new school record in the 200 free relay.

“High school swimming is very competitive,” Lauschke said. “I swim against people who are older than I am, and there are a lot of fast swimmers. That has really helped me improve my times.”

If Lauschke qualifies in the 500 free, Bray said that could be a big boost for the freshman.

“She has great lung capacity,” Bray said. “That helps her in the distance stuff. She holds her air. Less breathing means more strokes. With each breath, you turn your head for air and that slows you down.”

Lauschke is limited to four events at the state meet — two individual races and two relays — and Bray said he won’t make a decision until a few days before the event. Lauschke’s strongest event that she has qualified in is the 100 backstroke.

“I’m strong in the distance and the back,” Lauschke said.

Bray is also counting on a strong effort from Piotrowski in the 100 backstroke. Piotrowski also qualified for the state meet as a freshman and sophomore.

“Megan is a leader,” Bray said. “She is like a coach in the water with the other kids.”

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