Posted 7:41 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2013
UW-L alums Julie (Waterhouse) Regan and her sister, Laura (Waterhouse) Ball don't remember the exact times or place ranks that earned them spots on the UW-L Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming. But they do remember the teammates — their family — who cheered them along the way.
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From left, Julie (Waterhouse) Regan, Rich Pein, former swim coach, and Laura (Waterhouse) Ball. Julie and Laura were inducted into the UW-L Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Ball was on the swim team from 1996-2000 and competed in the mile, 200 fly, 100 fly and 500 free. Julie was on the team from 1994 to 1998. She competed in the 200 and 400 Individual Medley.[/caption]
Julie (Waterhouse) Regan, ’99, doesn’t remember the exact times or place ranks that earned her a spot on the UW-L Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming. But she does remember the teammates who cheered her along the way.
She recalls reaching the end of her swim lane to see teammates dip the lap sign down in the water to mark her progress and their muffled yelling above. She remembers the words of former Swim Coach Rich Pein that promoted a close-knit team culture.
“He never looked at us as point earners, but as a family,” she says.
Most of the team members were away from immediate family, notes Athletic Wall of Fame Swimmer Laura (Waterhouse) Ball.
“We were there for each other whether related to swimming, family or academic problems,” she says. “And we were there to congratulate each other and pick each other up.”
While Regan and Ball actually had family on the team — they are sisters whose years on the team overlapped from 1996-98 — the entire team became their family after eating, sleeping, swimming and driving across the country together, they agree.
They are lucky to still have that family today, says Regan.
“It’s a great group of people who are very selfless and are always there for each other,” says Regan.
After graduation, the team had a five-year reunion in Barbados, they were in each other’s weddings and went on family vacations together. They even show up to congratulate each other on major life achievements.
When Ball was most recently inducted into the Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming at an October UW-L football game, 12 of her swim teammates and her family, including her sister Regan, were there cheering.
They have many memories to share. From the misery of a 6 a.m. ab workout on a frost-covered mat to the team spirit they showed prior to meets. They got pumped up for their conference championship meet in 1998 by wearing a men’s button up T-shirt to the three-day meet with the words “Full Throttle. ” They altered the T-shirt, including ripping the sleeves off a little further each day to bond with the team and intimidate the competition.
“It wasn’t about winning,” says Ball. “The conference championship was a big deal to us because it was a team effort.”
Setting sights on a goal, overcoming the obstacles, learning dedication, building the team and finding family outside of family. It’s all stuff they still use today.
“I’ve always said that Rich Pein didn’t make us good swimmers, he made us good people,” says Ball.
Laura Ball
Laura graduated in 2000 with a major in art. Today Laura is a human resources benefits specialist with Imagine! – a non-profit organization that provides services for people with developmental and physical disabilities. Ball and her husband, Garret, live in Golden, Colo., with their daughter, Macaela (3).
Julie Regan
Julie graduated in 1999 with a major in elementary education. She is a third grade teacher at Bangor Elementary School and lives in Tomah with her husband, Matt, and their two children, Harrison (6) and Elle (3, who loves the water).
From left, Julie (Waterhouse) Regan, Rich Pein, former swim coach, and Laura (Waterhouse) Ball. Julie and Laura were inducted into the UW-L Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Ball was on the swim team from 1996-2000 and competed in the mile, 200 fly, 100 fly and 500 free. Julie was on the team from 1994 to 1998. She competed in the 200 and 400 Individual Medley.[/caption]
Julie (Waterhouse) Regan, ’99, doesn’t remember the exact times or place ranks that earned her a spot on the UW-L Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming. But she does remember the teammates who cheered her along the way.
She recalls reaching the end of her swim lane to see teammates dip the lap sign down in the water to mark her progress and their muffled yelling above. She remembers the words of former Swim Coach Rich Pein that promoted a close-knit team culture.
“He never looked at us as point earners, but as a family,” she says.
Most of the team members were away from immediate family, notes Athletic Wall of Fame Swimmer Laura (Waterhouse) Ball.
“We were there for each other whether related to swimming, family or academic problems,” she says. “And we were there to congratulate each other and pick each other up.”
While Regan and Ball actually had family on the team — they are sisters whose years on the team overlapped from 1996-98 — the entire team became their family after eating, sleeping, swimming and driving across the country together, they agree.
They are lucky to still have that family today, says Regan.
“It’s a great group of people who are very selfless and are always there for each other,” says Regan.
After graduation, the team had a five-year reunion in Barbados, they were in each other’s weddings and went on family vacations together. They even show up to congratulate each other on major life achievements.
When Ball was most recently inducted into the Athletic Wall of Fame for swimming at an October UW-L football game, 12 of her swim teammates and her family, including her sister Regan, were there cheering.
They have many memories to share. From the misery of a 6 a.m. ab workout on a frost-covered mat to the team spirit they showed prior to meets. They got pumped up for their conference championship meet in 1998 by wearing a men’s button up T-shirt to the three-day meet with the words “Full Throttle. ” They altered the T-shirt, including ripping the sleeves off a little further each day to bond with the team and intimidate the competition.
“It wasn’t about winning,” says Ball. “The conference championship was a big deal to us because it was a team effort.”
Setting sights on a goal, overcoming the obstacles, learning dedication, building the team and finding family outside of family. It’s all stuff they still use today.
“I’ve always said that Rich Pein didn’t make us good swimmers, he made us good people,” says Ball.
Laura Ball
Laura graduated in 2000 with a major in art. Today Laura is a human resources benefits specialist with Imagine! – a non-profit organization that provides services for people with developmental and physical disabilities. Ball and her husband, Garret, live in Golden, Colo., with their daughter, Macaela (3).
Julie Regan
Julie graduated in 1999 with a major in elementary education. She is a third grade teacher at Bangor Elementary School and lives in Tomah with her husband, Matt, and their two children, Harrison (6) and Elle (3, who loves the water).