The year 2015 will mark the end of an 11-year era — or at least it will for Homestead varsity swimmer and senior Whelan Callahan, as he will say goodbye to the sport he grew up with and the team members to whom he is captain. But despite the knowledge of his approaching departure, Callahan has many good memories of the sport and the team.

“The sport means personal achievement to me, but the team means friendship and fun,” Callahan said. As a member of the Highlander boys swim team for all four years of his high school career and one of the current captains of the varsity team, Callahan has certainly experienced both.

Swimming for Ozaukee Aquatics and the Homestead Jugmen, Callahan has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments. Last year, Callahan was the only member of the Homestead boys’ swim team to qualify for state, making the cut in the 100 breaststroke. Homestead swim coach Mark Gwidt also lists his accomplishments as “giving us a solid lineup in all freestyle events, IM’s, breast, fly and relays,” as well as placing in the top eight finishers in the 100 breaststroke at this year’s Marquette Invitational meet and winning numerous dual meet matchups.

Many swimmers change their main strokes during the course of their time in the sport, but Callahan says he has always stuck with the breaststroke. However, he added that he started to become a butterflier through his years in high school.

Callahan’s talent in multiple strokes has not gone unnoticed by his teammates or his coach.

“Whelan is a fantastic swimmer who is able to perform well in all strokes,” John Happ, senior and co-captain, said.  “Not only does he have a phenomenal breaststroke, but he posts impressive times in other races as well. He is a big point scorer for us at meets.”

Coach Gwidt agreed with Happ, adding that for Callahan to go from “a young man who did not make state as a freshman to a sectional winner as a junior, and maybe a top three state finish in the 100 breast, is tremendous growth.”

Callahan also highlighted that he felt better during his senior year on the team than on any other year in the past, saying “I feel much better this year than I did last year. I have been training much harder and have more motivation to get farther than in years past.”

But even with his accomplishments this year and in the past, Callahan says he doesn’t feel that his achievements are anything special. “I don’t think I’ve achieved anything extraordinarily great,” he said, “but I’ve certainly tried hard and had fun doing it.”

That work ethic and willingness to have fun while working hard are aspects that have made Callahan a valuable contributor to Homestead’s team. Gwidt says that Callahan leads by example in the pool and that he has done more than what has been required for him.

“Whelan is a great leader of the team,” Happ said. “He is a great motivator, keeps people on task, and is known for his legendary locker room speeches.” But for Happ, Callahan is more than just a team leader: he’s a friend. “I can’t imagine leading the Jugmen without him,” he said.

Callahan says his favorite part of meets is when the team chants the jug. “I feel like we’re all one and extremely powerful together,” he said.

However, the end of this season will mark the end of an era for Callahan, who says he does not have plans to take his swimming career past the summer after his senior year.

“I don’t think I will be swimming in college,” Callahan said. “I just missed the cusp of next level swimming, and I’d prefer to have more time on my hands in college.”

On the other hand, his coach realizes that Callahan’s absence will be greatly felt by the team’s younger members and future members of the Jugmen.

“He is one of the many that will be hard to replace,” Coach Gwidt said.