Lauren Witte is going for it

​By Dave Merchant dmerchant9701@yahoo.com
 
This awesome Dexter swimmer is making things happen.
 
The 100 backstroke and 200 Medley relay are my favorite events,” Witte said.” I plan to attend the University of Maine and study nursing, while swimming for the Black Bears.  My long term goal is to attend grad school and become a nurse anesthetist.”
 
Her favorite event is swimming relays with her teammates.  “It's fun and exciting to all come together and see how fast we can swim for the team.”
 
Favorite coaches:  Coach Dave Gendernalik of DCAC, Coach Cory Bergen and Coach Murphy Hanson of Dexter High School.
 
“I have been fortunate to have many great teachers throughout the years,” she said. “I have to mention Mrs. Ruth Hamilton who I have been lucky enough to have a class with almost every year (Biology, IB Bio, Advanced Biochemistry/Forensic Science) .  She makes science exciting and fun!  And I can't forget my favorite third grade teacher Ms. Suomala.  She taught me many life lessons, and made learning so fun that I could not wait to go to school every day.  She also had cool classroom pets.”
 
Favorite class: “I really enjoyed Psychology and Anatomy,” she said.
 
Parents/sibling:  “Wade Witte and Trudy Zedaker-Witte are my parents.  I have an older sister Kaylee (who also swam for DHS) and a younger sister Lily who swims and dives for DHS (10th grade).”
 
Age started swimming:  “Four years old (almost 5) at DCAC.  My first DCAC swim and dive meet was on my fifth birthday.”
 
Why did you chose Maine for college:  “Maine has a wide variety of programs and opportunities.  They have a great and very successful nursing program with a very high first time pass rate for the Nursing exam,” she said. I was also able to gain admittance to their Direct Admit Nursing Program, which means I don't have to worry about competing for a spot in their nursing school (not all nursing schools have a direct admit program).   Some other schools that I was looking at to swim did not support swimming for the team and majoring in nursing--I was told I would have had to change my major, which I wasn't interested in doing.  However, Maine has several nursing students on the swim and dive team and the coaches are very supportive.  I also get the opportunity to swim D1 at a larger university with a beautiful campus.  I can't wait to explore what Maine has to offer!”
 
“Lauren found Maine all by herself. She spent a lot of time last Spring searching for schools that she was fast enough to swim at and had a good nursing program and hit upon Maine. She is happy and excited and we are happy for her. I just wish it was a little closer to home,” stated Lauren’s mom, Trudy Zedaker-Witte.
 
Advice for young swimmers is strong. “Always try your hardest and do your best you never know where it will get you.”
 

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