New Trier swimmers Ashley and Katie Welnhofer may be Illinois’ top sister act, but their mom recalls how her daughters had–at best–a mixed introduction to the sport.
“I took them to a park district program over at Centennial [Aquatic Center] in Wilmette when Ashley was about 8,” said Diane Welnhofer. “Ashley took to it OK, but Katie had a hard time with it. She clung onto the side of the pool and cried. So we pulled her out for that summer.”
Big sister Ashley quickly showed potential and was soon invited to join a local competitive swimming club. Katie would later catch up quickly.
“I was way too young and I hated it,” Katie said. “My mom let me take the year off, and then I started the next year.”
Thus began a tandem progression through local park district, club competition and high school swimming that culminates with the sisters’ final high school meet together at this weekend’s state swimming championships.
Ashley, an 18-year-old senior, and Katie, a 16-year-old junior, enter Friday’s preliminaries in Evanston Township High School’s pool with a combined seven state championship medals as they lead New Trier’s bid for its third consecutive state team title.
“This year we trained [Ashley] mostly freestyle,” said New Trier coach Mark Onstott. “But she’s somebody who can qualify for state in just about any event and give people a run for their money.
“Katie is also extremely talented. She’s probably not quite as versatile, but she’s somebody who could [also] get to state in any event.”
Ashley made her mark right off the bat as a freshman. In 1999, she won a 500-yard freestyle state championship and also swam on a pair of top-three relays. When Katie joined her a year later, the sisters combined on the first-place 200 freestyle relay team. Ashley also swam on a championship 400 freestyle relay while Katie was on a second-place 200 medley relay that year.
Last fall, the Welnhofers swam together on a first-place 200 free relay. Ashley was second in the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley and on a first-place 400 freestyle relay. Katie took second in the 100 butterfly behind former Rosary star Mary DeScenza and was third in the 50 freestyle.
At last Saturday’s state qualifying sectionals, Ashley had the state’s fastest 200 freestyle time (1 minute 52.50 seconds) and was fifth fastest in the 100 freestyle. Katie was the third-fastest butterfly swimmer in the state and was fourth in the 50 freestyle.
“My first goal is always to get my best times because if I get my best times, I’m always happy,” said Ashley, who has committed to swim starting next year at Northwestern University. “I don’t really like people that slack at all. I always do everything the coach asks. I always want to do more.”
Both sisters are highly competitive but also supportive of each other.
“I like swimming with my sister,” Katie said. “[But] whenever she goes faster than me or she’s training really fast, I feel like I have to go really fast and try to beat her. I think it’s the same for her. In freshman year I broke one of her records, and she was really mad.”
Diane Welnhofer, who said she has never missed a high school meet, hopes for the best for her daughters this weekend.
“They’ve worked really, really hard,” she said. “They’re good kids. I’m proud of them no matter what they do.
“I hope they get best times. I hope they have fun.”
