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Making a Splash

For Westside High School senior Logan Kuehne, swimming is a family tradition. “My mom swam for Northwestern University, and my dad swam for Wisconsin-River Falls. My younger sister, a sophomore, also swims for Westside, and it’s been really fun training and going to meets with her. I’m so glad I got to share the past two years with her.”

Kuehne pushes herself to train harder and beat her own times, but “the internal drive to beat the person in the lane/s next to me is oftentimes what pushes me through a race.” Winning the State Championship in the 100 freestyle in her junior year and committing to the University of Illinois are high points in her swimming career. “They both exemplify what I am truly capable of when I work hard and have a good mindset.”

Despite her previous success, Kuehne struggled with motivation during her senior year. “Due to the obvious obstacles surrounding COVID-19, it was hard for me to go to practice and train for a February State Championship meet that was, at the time, hypothetical. Everything throughout the year was so unknown that it was also hard to stay focused on getting stronger while still having to stress over the possibility of getting sick.”

She also wasn’t able to go attend in-person college visits due to the pandemic but eventually committed to the University of Illinois where she will be enrolled in the Gies College of Business as a marketing major. “I am most looking forward to competing in a highly competitive conference with other talented athletes,” she said. “I am excited to get to know the new team and coaches and train harder than I ever have before.” 

Westside swim coach Andy Rider said Kuehne will make the transition well because of her focus on training, improving, and performing at the highest level. “In the water, Logan is all business. She is one of the fastest girls to ever come out of Westside High School. She holds two individual school records and is part of a school record relay. Logan is also an amazing student. She was part of the all-metro academic team her junior and senior year. I am excited to see what she can do in and out of the water when she attends the University of Illinois in the fall.”

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