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She was a state champion in the 50-yard freestyle last year for the Winona Senior High School swim team.
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Winona Senior High School senior swimmer Abbey Staats will sign with the University of Minnesota swim team today. Staats, a sprint swimmer, will compete in the Section 1AA meet in Rochester on Thursday. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
She’s the favorite to repeat this year and possibly get the 100-free title as well if all things go right.
She’s been to state every year she was on varsity, which started in eighth grade.
All that was left was for Staats was to pick a school, and the 6-footer knew where she didn’t want to go.
“At first, I was set in stone in my decision process not to think the U of M (University of Minnesota),” Staats said.
So, at 2 p.m. today in the media center at Winona High, Staats will be signing a swimming scholarship for none other than the University of Minnesota.
“I guess I did a complete 180,” Staats said. “I told myself I wanted to experience something new, go somewhere different.
“The U of M showed the most desire for me to be on the team. They showed the most excitement.”
Staats had her schools narrowed down to the Gophers, Wisconsin, Kansas and San Diego State.
In comparing those schools with Minnesota there was no comparison in Staats’ mind. Minnesota, which is ranked 12th in the country, had better facilities, she had a better relationship with the coaches and, after she took her official visit, there was no doubt.
“That’s when I started to think that school was the best for me,” Staats said. “And at a meeting with the coaches, where we sit and talk, I felt like I was wanted. I left thinking, ‘This is it. I want to go here.’”
The decision was hard and making the commitment was even harder. She called the other schools and told them she wasn’t going with them.
Then, about three weeks ago, with her family all in the room, Staats made the call to verbally commit.
“The whole family was sitting around,” Staats said. “The phone was on speakerphone. It was nerve wracking making that call, but once I told them, my family started cheering and yelling.”
Staats will make it official today, the same day of the section meet and the first step in her goal to win another state title.
According to Staats, waiting this long didn’t take too much out of her or weigh too heavily on her final high school season.
“I tried not to let it,” she said. “It’s important to choose, but I couldn’t let it get in the way.”
Staats will compete in the 50 and 100 free along with two relays today and Friday in the Section 1AA meet in Austin, Minn.
“There’s a lot of pressure off (once she made the decision),” WSHS girls swim coach Steve Burt said. “It feels goofy to see her go to a big-time program.”
State will be held Nov. 20 and Nov. 22 at the U of M Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
As an eighth grader in 2004, Staats qualified in the 200 medley relay — Winona’s first relay team to qualify in 15 years.
In ninth grade, Staats qualified for state in the 50 and 100 free.
As a sophomore, Staats qualified for the state finals in those two events and finished fifth in the 50 and seventh in the 100. She also qualified in the 200 medley relay.
Last season was another first for Staats and Winona. She was the first Winhawks swimmer to win a state title, taking the 50 free in 23.54 seconds. She also took third in the 100 free and helped Winona qualify for state in the 200 free and 400 free relays.
