BY CHARLIE JORDAN
Ian Mikesell dove into his freshman year head first as he finished his season with a sixth place finish at the state competition in Canton, Ohio. He swam his career best 100-meter breaststroke with a 59.59 in prelims which put him in position to make the podium. Mikesell was the youngest of eight on the podium, making you wonder where he will be in his next three years of high school.
Mikesell is helping to lead the men’s Water Warriors as he ranks in the top ten of many events in the CHL, leading the 100-meter breaststroke. He placed 4th at the district meet in the event and continued his hot streak at state, as stated earlier. Along with the breaststroke, he also qualified in the 200 individual medley (IM), the 200 medley relay, and the 400 free relay. While some of the meets are new to Mikesell, he is not unfamiliar with large meets.
Mikesell says, “Before high school I was not familiar at all with the sectionals, districts, and state meets.” He went on to say, “I had only experienced CHL championships and the Junior Olympic championships for club swimming.”
With these larger meets comes more competition and more people, which he does not seem to mind.
“My favorite part about swimming is the competition that it brings and also meeting new friends outside of school who are from different schools in Cincinnati,” says the freshman.
The seniors have enjoyed Mikesell being a part of the team this year.
“If I have ever seen anyone get too hyped before a relay, it’s Ian,” says senior Mac Nelson. Nelson continued to say, “He’s already faster than the seniors in most events, and he’s only a freshman; he has a lot of potential.”
Another senior teammate, Chris Spooner says, “He always looks for a challenge.” One of these challenges was a time when Mikesell wore jeans to the team’s weekly session of yoga. Spooner explains that Mikesell believed there was not a difference between wearing shorts to yoga and wearing jeans; so Ian wore jeans. “The instructor made fun of him for wearing jeans, so he was convinced that she did not like him,” Spooner says. The freshmen went on to wear jeans the following week to show the instructor that he did not care what she thought of his jeans.
While swimming might be considered his best extracurricular activity, he is also involved with cross country, lacrosse, ski club, band, and student council.
“Swimming is definitely one of my favorite extracurricular activities; however I also like skiing with ski club and participating in student council as well,” says Mikesell.
With all of these activities, he still finds time to hang out with his friends as well as staying caught up on his favorite football team, The Ohio State Buckeyes. His love for the Buckeyes is shown through his Instagram username (@osu_mikesell), his specialized Ohio State tennis shoes, his official Nike Ohio State football gloves, or even his nickname “OSU” given to him by some of his peers. His love for Ohio State came from his mom who graduated from the university. She and Ian continue to visit at least once a year as they attend a football game every season.
“After I attended my first game I just loved everything about Ohio State,” says the freshman.
While just a freshman, he has also had to make the transition to high school in academics as well. He is enjoying his year so far and credits sports for his easy transition.
“During cross country I got to know a lot of upperclassmen who helped make the transition to high school a lot easier,” says Mikesell.
As the swimming season ends, Mikesell will continue to stay busy as he starts up lacrosse season and continues to go skiing with the ski club, playing music with the band, and working with student council.