The Messiah women's swim team finished another impressive season capturing their fourth-straight MAC Championship title. The Falcons collected a total of 619 points and earned a total of 38 All-MAC honors.
Kaitlin Wingert's performance especially shined as she won gold in the 100 Freestyle, 200 IM and 200 Freestyle, and she helped the team take gold in the 800 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, and 400 Freestyle Relay. She was named MAC Swimmer of the Year but the true icing on top was becoming the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Championships Qualifier.
Wingert's 100 Freestyle time of 51.36, earned at MAC Championships earlier this month was listed among the final cut times for the NCAA Championships. She is the first swimmer in Messiah' men's or women's history to qualify for the national event.
"I am incredibly honored to represent Messiah swimming at the NCAA Championships. It is every athlete's dream to compete at the national level in their sport, and our team has had sights on sending someone to nationals for the past couple of years. This meet will be an incredible experience that will hopefully lay the foundations for later generations of Messiah swimming. Although I am the only member of my team who is competing at the meet, I am representing something far greater than myself; a team who is immensely disciplined and encouraging, coaches who nurture us as human beings, not just athletes, and Messiah swimming fans who faithfully sit in the stands cheering us on at every meet. Above all, regardless of any spot on the podium, I hope to glorify our good God, who is faithful and loving, and without whom I am nothing." –
Kaitlin Wingert
A tough competitor, but more importantly humble in her journey as an athlete swimming for the glory of God. Continue reading as Katie shares more about her experience in this week's edition of #WhyMessiah.
What are the names of the rest of your family and where do you fall among siblings?
My parents are Dave and Kathy Wingert, and I have one brother, Daniel. I am the youngest. I'm told that the youngest child is a fighter; I'd like to think that quality makes me a better swimmer.
Is there anything unique about your family or members of your family that you want to share?
My older brother and his wife, Hanna, attended Messiah, swam on the team, and graduated in 2014, just before I started my time here. I love that attending Messiah--and being a part of a sports team here--is a true family enterprise for so many.
Why did you come to Messiah and/or why do you love being at Messiah?
I came to Messiah because I wanted to be a part of something far bigger than myself; I wanted to grow spiritually, academically, and athletically--in that order of priority. Messiah has far exceeded my hopes and dreams in each of those areas.
If you could have dinner with one person in history, who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with C.S. Lewis. I really respect Lewis for the way that he allowed his Christian faith to permeate and shape his scholarly endeavors.
How do you balance your academic work and your commitment to your sport?
Some nights, I don't get as much sleep as I would like, but I am fortunate to have been mentored by many upperclassmen on our team in learning how to schedule my time strategically. There isn't a lot of wiggle room, but it is awesome that we have the opportunity as student-athletes to learn how to budget our time and prioritize.
Who has most influenced your life and why?
My parents have influenced my life the most. My dad is a man of faith and has modeled a love for learning for me. My mom has made many career sacrifices in order to take care of my brother, and me and she has an incredible spirit of perseverance.
What is one thing about your coach that those outside your team may not know?
Coach Luley has spent nearly a decade with college swimmers, and during that time, Coach has developed an appetite for the same snacks that her swimmers eat. If you were to catch her unguarded during a lunch break in her office, she would likely be chowing down on a granola bar, an apple, or a pack of gummies.
What is special about your coaching staff and teammates, and how would you explain that to a recruit or someone outside of the program?
Our team is centered on the axis of relationships--and above all, a relationship with our God. That means that, on good days and on bad days, you are constantly surrounded by love and care. Your sense of self-worth and joy is not founded in your achievements. That is a kind of community that is nearly impossible to find in this world.
What is one of your favorite team traditions and why?
First of all, I love our team bible study. Last year, I had the chance to be a part of starting a new tradition at our swim meets. Each member women's team gives each member of the opposing team a personal note. It has been incredible to see the way that these small gestures of kindness have transformed the landscape of our conference. We have cultivated so many relationships with our opponents.
If you didn't play your current sport, would you play any other sport? If so, which one and why?
I have absolutely terrible hand-eye coordination, but I've always loved watching the strategy of tennis on tv, so I think I would go for that.
What is the toughest part of being a collegiate student-athlete? How do you live or grow through this at Messiah?
The toughest part of being a collegiate student-athlete is finding a way to synthesize the two parts of my identity--my identity as a student and my identity as an athlete. The incredible thing about Messiah College is that we hear on a regular basis that we are not defined by either of those identities. We are defined by our identity as broken human beings saved by the immense grace of Jesus Christ. Some days I still wonder whether I am more "jock" or "nerd," but I am thankful for the mentoring of many of my teammates, professors, and coaches, who have shared with me the joy that it is to abide in my identity as a follower of Christ.
What is your favorite Messiah memory?
My favorite Messiah memory is from this year at MACs. The first night, we went into the meet as underdogs, and then we somehow pulled out wins in both of the two relays that night. I was a part of one of the relays as anchor--the 800 freestyle relays--and it was an amazing feeling to be cheered on by my teammates as we finished out the relay and fought to the finish. Best of all, our competitors gave us all hugs after the race, which is such a testament to the sportsmanship in our conference.
If you had to answer the question #WhyMessiah what would you say?
Messiah challenges you to see everything, in the context of a nurturing Christian community, through the lens of faith: academics, sports, and relationships. Every success, every failure, and every hardship can and should be celebrated in the light of the redemptive work of Christ.
