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SYRACUSE, Ind. — Wawasee High School swimmer Julie Mishler felt strong yet sluggish off the block at the beginning of the 50 freestyle during a dual meet against Concord on Dec. 10. As she approached the turn, she thought, “Alright, I need to pick up the pace.”
Faster ultimately led to a national high school record. Mishler, a senior who has committed to Louisville, completed the race in 21.56, surpassing Olympian Gretchen Walsh’s record of 21.59 from February 2020.
“I was just aiming to swim under 22,” Mishler stated. “I would have been content with 21.9. I was genuinely shocked, honestly… That’s often the sensation you get when you’re swimming quickly: It feels like you’re hardly swimming at all. It’s strange because you think you’re not exerting much effort, but you are.”
This moment was worth remembering in a high school journey filled with national victories and impressive finishes at the state competition. Mishler, ranked No. 3 in the Indiana class of 2025, is the only athlete among the top 10 from outside Central Indiana. She established the national record in lane four of the Wawasee Middle School pool in Syracuse — right next to Milford, the community she has lived in her entire life.
Mishler mentioned she didn’t want to relocate for swimming. She cherishes the Wawasee Middle School pool. She values her team members, including Ball State commit Addie Beasley — whose father introduced her and Mishler to swimming when they were just 5. She appreciates training with her sister Alexis, who competes at Florida Gulf Coast University and has motivated her to improve as a swimmer. And Wawasee stands among the state’s top swim programs, finishing seventh at the IHSAA meet in 2023 and 10th in 2024.
However, training elsewhere has proven crucial for her advancement. Mishler began swimming for FAST, managed by Fishers High School coach Joe Keller, during her freshman spring season.
Keller and Mishler’s father, Philip, connected years ago through a student teaching program at Northridge High School. As Mishler and her sister began swimming, Philip periodically reached out to Keller for guidance.
Three years earlier, Keller noted that Philip contacted him to express concern about his daughters’ progress plateauing. Thus, Philip and the girls traveled to Fishers to train with Keller.
It was a transformative experience, Mishler revealed.
“I picked up new drills,” Mishler recounted. “I wasn’t familiar with bucket (turns) and how that benefits a swimmer’s strength. I had no understanding of tempo and how quickly your arms should move, as well as the amount of water to pull. I learned much more about the technique aspect that I hadn’t truly understood before.”
Since then, she has continued swimming for FAST, recently clinching a junior national championship in the 50 free for the club in Greensboro, N.C. While she occasionally practices in Fishers, Keller typically sends her workouts to complete at home. She utilizes a device that tracks her progress and relays the data to Keller, who adjusts her regimen based on the input.
The technique came together when Mishler joined FAST. But she has always exhibited athleticism. Wawasee coach Jason Scott said that Mishler’s talent was evident when he first met her at age 5. By 8, she was qualifying for state age group competitions and won the 50 free at the state meet when she was 11.
What has developed over time and is commendable, according to Scott, is Mishler’s maturity. At a recent competition, he observed her comforting an upset teammate and talking with her for 15 minutes.
“Most teenagers tend to make everything about themselves,” he expressed. “Over the last couple of years, she’s expanded her focus to include the people around her, which is truly admirable.”
Hard work has also been integral to Mishler’s progress, Scott indicated. He recently witnessed this determination when Mishler returned from junior nationals in Greensboro early on a Saturday and headed straight to her high school invitational afterward, where she anchored Wawasee’s relay team.
This dedication has accompanied her college recruitment journey. Many swimmers in Central Indiana compete year-round from elementary school onwards. Mishler acknowledged that starting late likely impacted her recruitment opportunities.
“After I committed to Louisville, I won nationals — my first time winning nationals in the 50 free,” she recounted. “There were coaches wondering, ‘Who is that?’
Nevertheless, she’s eager to represent Louisville, who recognized her potential for future achievements. Additionally, she noted that the Cardinals foster a strong sprint team and a family-oriented atmosphere unlike any other she encountered during her visits.
Before moving forward, Mishler has some goals to fulfill on her high school bucket list. She aims to surpass her national record. Furthermore, she aspires to win a state title in the 50 free, a target she has pursued throughout her high school years.
Little Mishler’s accomplishments would astonish both Keller and Scott, who were not surprised by her national record.
“She’ll achieve remarkable heights simply because she dislikes losing,” Scott remarked. “She puts in the effort when she has significant objectives.”
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