By Bill Bray
FREMONT – The Fremont Ross Swimming Giants have begun the 2022-23 swim season and one of the senior leaders is in the spotlight. Logan Weisenauer, the three-time district qualifier is in his final “push” to get to the state swim meet in the 100 butterfly, his favorite stroke.
Weisenauer has been a standout on the team since his entrance into the high school program his freshman year in 2019-2020. In his inaugural season, Weisenauer qualified for the district meet in three events. He then added two more district qualifying swims his sophomore and junior seasons as he continued to improve with even faster times in those events.
Senior Logan Weisenauer prepares for his final season in the Purple and White.
Logan entered his freshman year following in the footsteps of his brother Dylan Weisenauer, who is the holder of two school records for the Little Giant swim team and was competing in his final season for the Little Giants. The elder Weisenauer has the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke records. This has been a real motivator for Logan as he continues to work to improve. ““I always think about it,” Logan replied when asked about his brother’s name on the record board. “I always look up there. I would love to break his time, but it is much harder than what people think.”
It was his brother and grandpa Joe that got the younger Weisenauer turned on to the sport when Logan was in the second grade. “Dylan was definitely the one that got me to give swimming a try,” Logan remembered. “Before Dylan even swam at middle school, he participated in club swim,” Weisenauer said. “When we moved into this area, my grandpa introduced Dylan to the Club Swim program. I always looked at my brother as kind of a role model, so I always did what he wanted to do,” Logan explained. So, at eight years old, Logan took his first plunge into the pool and ended up qualifying for all 16 events at the Junior Olympic level before he was done with club swim. “When that happened, I remember coach Moran being happy about it,” Logan said. “I remember he called me the “Big 16”.
Logan, like most high school athletes have had a bit of a different road the last three years. “It was a little bit of a struggle my freshman year because of the covid outbreak,” Logan recalled. “Then my sophomore season we had to deal with all the mask mandates. We were required to wear a mask right up until time we were ready to dive into the pool. That was when we were allowed to rip them off and swim.”
Weisenauer remembered his junior year as a bit more relaxed as the mask mandate was lifted. “I got my vaccine then to, so I was no longer required to wear a mask.”
Through all the smog and mandates that surrounded athletes those few years, Weisenauer showed his resilience by qualifying for district his sophomore and junior seasons also in three events.
So, for his high school years it has been the sport of swimming where his passion lies. “Swimming is what I always loved doing,” Weisenauer explained. “I couldn’t see myself doing any other sport, and for me it is easier to focus on one sport where I am good at and can put all my efforts towards.”
His coach, Ross veteran Phil Moran, had nothing but good things to say about one of his senior leaders. “Logan has always been a kid with a big heart,” Moran said. “He works hard, and he lets his swimming do the talking. He is competitive although he doesn’t necessarily show it, but you can tell when he swims. He is one of the nicest kids you will ever meet. He would go out of his way to help anyone out.”
Weisenauer paid homage to his coach in return. ““He just makes me look at life differently. All the lessons he has taught me in swimming can also be applied in life as well.”
After having one final season practicing and competing at the Ross Natatorium amongst other pools, Logan will make his fourth and final effort to qualify for the state meet. Following graduation, Weisenauer will be leaving for the Marine Corps. in July when he will be attending the strenuous Boot Camp. “After Boot Camp I would go to job training in California for two months. Then I would come back home as a member of the Marine Corps. reserves and hopefully be a tower technician. I am taking that certification class right now through April at Vanguard. “
“My high school career has meant a little bit of everything to me,” Weisenauer said. “I consider this pool my second home. I meant my true friends here. These are really the only friends I really talk to because I am in touch with them day to day at least through the season.”
Rest assured that senior Logan Weisenauer will give it his all in his final swim campaign, a normal one compared to his previous three season. All the best as Logan takes a leap at a state meet qualification.