For Antoni Schuerle, swimming has become about much more than times on a scoreboard or medals around his neck.
The sport has helped shape his discipline, work ethic, and approach to life, and as he prepares for his senior year of high school, Schuerle already has his eyes on what comes next.
A versatile swimmer whose primary events are the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke, Schuerle has developed into an athlete capable of helping his team in several different areas.
“I swim the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke,” Schuerle said. “But I am incredibly versatile and can do whatever I’m needed to.”
That versatility has helped Schuerle compile an impressive résumé throughout his high school career. He has earned OVAC All-Valley recognition every year since his freshman season and was named OVAC Swimmer of the Year as a junior. Schuerle has also earned OHSAA All-District recognition and OHSAA academic honors dating back to his freshman year.
He has competed at the OHSAA state level and currently owns three team records, but Schuerle isn’t finished adding accomplishments to his high school career.
His goals for his senior season are ambitious.
Schuerle wants to finish among the top 16 in the state in both the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medleys while also chasing school records in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM. At the district level, he hopes to win the 100 breaststroke and earn a podium finish in the 200 IM.
The goals don’t stop when Schuerle leaves the pool.
Academics remain an important part of his senior year, as he wants to excel in his AP and honors courses while preparing himself for the demands of college.
That next chapter is expected to take Schuerle to Washington & Jefferson College, a school that stood out because of the combination of academics, athletics and community he found there.
“W&J is such an incredible college,” Schuerle said. “The sense of community and strength within their athletic and academic programs are incredible. They have a prestigious background and a well-rounded staff who seems to want to help me achieve my goals.”
Daily Discipline
Schuerle’s success doesn’t come without a significant commitment away from competition. His daily routine reflects the discipline that has helped him become one of the area’s accomplished swimmers.
He wakes up at 6 a.m. and begins his day with a 15-minute ice bath, stretching and a half-mile jog, all before checking his phone. After school, he spends approximately two hours in the gym before getting additional steps in and stretching again. Then it’s time for swim practice, where Schuerle says he puts everything he has into his work in the pool.
Nutrition is another part of that routine.
Schuerle focuses on meals that provide protein and carbohydrates while keeping calories controlled. Egg whites with wheat toast and raw honey, beef and rice, and dinners consisting of steak or chicken with vegetables and a carbohydrate source are among his regular choices.
Even with such a demanding schedule, Schuerle finds time to get away from the pool. Lifting and golfing are two of his favorite hobbies, giving him a chance to relax after a long day or week. He also enjoys pickleball, video games, watching television, and following other sports.
Two swimmers in particular have influenced the way Schuerle approaches competition: British breaststroke star Adam Peaty and American distance swimming legend Katie Ledecky.
Schuerle admires not only what they have accomplished in the pool but also the mentality they bring to their sport. He said incorporating aspects of their mindsets into his own daily life has helped him tremendously.
Swimming might not be the only endurance challenge in Schuerle’s future, either.
He has an interest in eventually competing in a triathlon and is particularly intrigued by the training process required to prepare for one. For now, however, his focus remains squarely on swimming. With his senior season approaching and college swimming on the horizon, he doesn’t want anything to disrupt the training regimen he has established.
As graduation draws closer, Schuerle will have plenty of people in his corner as he pursues his remaining high school goals and prepares for the next stage of his life. He credits his family, friends, coaches, and community for supporting and challenging him throughout the journey.
Above all, however, Schuerle points to his faith as the foundation behind everything he has accomplished and everything he hopes to accomplish in the future.
“I would love to thank my family, friends, coaches, and community for pushing me when I needed it most,” Schuerle said. “But most importantly I want to give all of my glory and success to God. He has spearheaded my whole life in ways that have benefited me. I trust in His plan, and will continue to for the rest of my life.”
For Schuerle, the finish of high school won’t represent the end of the journey. It will simply be the start of another race, one he is preparing to meet with the same discipline, determination and faith that have carried him this far.
