Preparation, endurance and conference pride were on full display at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Swimming and Diving Championships, where UW-La Crosse won both the men’s and women’s titles.
For athletes at UW-Whitewater, the championship begins long before the opening heat.
“The biggest focus is always making sure I am fueling my body correctly and preparing myself outside of the pool,” senior swimmer Ethan Bergman said. “Being able to trust the work I did throughout the season will pay off.”
The WIAC Championship spanned four days and seven sessions, demanding sustained excellence from swimmers and divers competing in multiple events.
“What makes it the most challenging is that it’s a four-day meet and you’re expected to give 100 percent effort in all your swims,” Bergman said.
Despite the grind of championship racing, team chemistry has remained steady.
“Chemistry is good,” Bergman said. “Everyone tries to keep the mood lighthearted and stress-free leading up to the meet.”
He added that the session reinforced the importance of collective goals.
“I have learned this season that individually working as hard as possible allows us to reach our goals we set as a team,” Bergman said.
While conference leaders surged in the standings, swimmers across the WIAC emphasized that championship performances are built during the final weeks of preparation. Junior swimmer Caleb Weis said the team has spent recent practices tapering, reducing yardage while increasing intensity to ensure athletes are rested for the season’s biggest races.
“WIACs are the culmination of our entire season,” Weis said. “It is the only meet of the year that we fully taper for.”
The extended format and heightened atmosphere add to the challenge. Weis described the energy at the conference championship as noticeably different from regular season meets, with swimmers consistently posting new personal-best times.
He said the Warhawks’ focus has been staying present and trusting their training heading into the final sessions.
As the Warhawks’ 2026 regular season concludes, and UW-La Crosse stands on top of the conference, the team ended its season on a week of preparation, endurance and execution when it mattered most.
