Ed. Note: The summer feature series continues in the New Carlisle News, featuring key returning athletes from Tecumseh High School for next season.
Heading into her junior year, Tecumseh’s Julia Randenburg has already established herself as one of the top swimmers in Arrows history. The district qualifier her first two years, Randenburg is ready to take her talent to another level, and continue the recent success she has enjoyed in the pool.
During her first two years swimming with the Arrows varsity team, Randenburg has broken seven of the 11 school records for Tecumseh, while qualifying for districts both years and has received five CBC medals so far in her talented high school career.
Her accomplishments in high school include third place in the 100 Butterfly freshman year in the CBC, while sophomore year she earned second place in the 50 Freestyle, third place in the 100 Butterfly, and third place in the 200 Freestyle Relay and 200 Medley Relay. Randenburg also swims for SPY swim club, and has qualified for Zones which are comparable to Districts. She also qualified for Summer Nationals at Indiana University of Purdue.
With all of those accomplishments under her belt, Randenburg knows there is room for improvement especially if she wants to progress further into the post season and to the next level.
“I’ve been a member of the Springfield YMCA (SPY) for the last 5 years, swimming year around and I participate in numerous meets in the Dayton and Cincinnati area,” Randenburg said. “I work with experienced coaches who know how to push me to be a better athlete by giving me specific drills and workouts. I’ve also attended a swim camp at Kenyon College where the college coaches and swimmers worked with me to help improve my technique.”
“To improve my game and be the best athlete, I can be I go to multiple practices a week and cross train by running and lifting,” she added. “I also pay attention to the critiques my coaches give me while I race and apply them while I practice.”
The two-sport athlete has also enjoyed her time on the volleyball court in the fall, but this year, she will be enjoying a different sport.
“My favorite sport is swimming, and I started swimming after I completed swim lessons and the teacher saw potential in me so she asked me to join the team,” she said. “I also played volleyball from seventh through tenth grade. My mom got me interested because she played in high school.”
“This upcoming school year one of my best friends and I are playing golf together because we wanted to try something new. My grandfather, Hank Oakes, is the one who got us interested because he is a golf teaching pro.”
While she will be hitting the links next month for the Arrows, she will remain focused on what lies ahead.
“My goals for my upcoming season are to medal in all 4 events I swim at CBC, qualify for Districts and place better than I have in previous years, and break more school records,” she said. “I also hope to be a good role model for my teammates and encourage more people to join the swim team.”
Other than sports at school, Randenburg is involved with the YoungLife program, while also being inducted into National Junior Honor Society in middle school.
“I hope to get into Honor Society this school year,” she added. The standout also plans to major in Veterinary Medicine because of her love being around animals. She also plans to swim at the collegiate level.
