Caleb Weis is more than just an athlete.
The sophomore is thriving as a long-distance swimmer with the UW-Whitewater men’s swim and dive team this season, posting several first-place finishes and medaling in nearly every race he has run this season. Academically, he is a double-major student in marketing and communication, along with being the president of the university’s Public Relations Student Society of America and having increased involvement in the school’s American Marketing Association chapter.
Competing in sports at the collegiate level is an impressive feat. Balancing that competition with student organizations and multiple academic degrees is even more impressive. Weis sat down with the Royal Purple to discuss being a student-athlete, what he hopes to accomplish in the water and more.
Q: Why did you choose UW-Whitewater to continue your swimming career?
A: I first chose my school based on the academic program because I was thinking more ahead of my professional career, and that the best education would get me to where I am now. It just so happens that I was able to join or walk-on to the Whitewater swim team here.
Q: How have you developed as a swimmer?
A: Coach Elise [Knoche] really helped develop into the swimmer I am today. In high school, I was mostly swimming butterfly and IM, but last year Elise saw the potential I had for the longer events. It’s from the distance sets that coach gives me, which are absolutely fantastic. Last year, some of the seniors – Hunter Hayberger and Dan Emary – really held my hand, almost to teach me how to do everything distance.
Q: What are some personal goals you have this season?
A: After finals weekend, I will be going down to Florida to participate in an open-water 5K race for the team, and that’s a national competition. I’m hoping to do well at that. Another season goal for me this year is to medal in all of my events. Last year, I was close to it, but I just missed out. We’re also hoping to break the 800-freestyle relay record. We are really close on that.
Q: How do you balance being a student-athlete?
A: I think it comes from the same perspective, the way I take my events and practices in general. I know my education ultimately will come first for me, because that’s the greatest thing that will have the greatest impact on my life. Usually I’m pretty good about scheduling time in for friends, time for swim and time for academics as well. The entire men’s swim team, our coach and even all of my friends are all very supportive of my goals.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your UW-Whitewater career?
A: One of my career goals is getting the record for the mile here on campus, and coach has really been pushing me to work toward it with a lot of longer swimming and higher aerobic capacity sets, and that’s helped out a lot. I think my biggest goal, it may sound cliche, but I just want to live with no regrets. I don’t want to look back and say that I missed an opportunity or missed something that I didn’t want to explore more. That’s why I’m involved so much outside of swim, because I don’t like giving up opportunities. I like chasing them.
Weis and the men’s swim and dive team have plenty of opportunities to chase coming up. After the Open Water Championships in Florida, the team will compete in the Lake Forest-Lawrence-Whitewater Triangular at the Williams Center Pool Jan. 25, and then close the regular season with a meet against UW-Eau Claire Feb. 1.
