Photo by Mandy Lynn (Lundy) Corbell – mandylynnportraits.com
By BYRON BEERS
Muskogee senior Sabrina Meinershagen has dealt with multiple injuries throughout her high school career, but her love for swimming has kept her going.
“I feel like my strength is my determination in the sport,” Meinershagen said. “Through the past few years I have had to work through many different injuries and my love for the sport definitely helped me keep going. I have improved a lot on my overall endurance throughout high school.”
Shoulder surgery in March 2022 has limited Meinershagen in her final season with the Roughers. Through her career, she has competed in the 200 freestyle, her favorite event and where she has posted a time of 2:29.71, and 100 backstroke, her stronger event.
“This season has been hard for me, since coming back from shoulder surgery last March,” she said. “But I’m making the best of it, and trying to finish the season strong.
“It has been going pretty good from a team standpoint. My teammates are amazing people to be around and I am proud to get to cheer for them at the meets!”
“Sabrina is a 4th-year varsity member of the team,” Muskogee head coach Karen Bradley said. “She is consistent and works hard at practice. She is a leader and gives guidance to the junior high team when needed. Sabrina is our team cheerleader and helps to create an energetic atmosphere.”
Meinershagen, who has been swimming for six years, enjoys bonding with teammates.
“My favorite part about being a student-athlete at school is the community I get to build with my teammates at practice and at competitions,” she said. “It has become a second family over these past few years.”
During her free time, she loves hanging out with friends or sitting down and reading a good book.
Meinershagen looks up to Katie Ledecky and her favorite swimming drill is anything that works with butterfly strokes.
“The professional swimmer I have always looked up to during my career is Katie Ledecky and how she consistently shows up and gives the sport her all,” Meinershagen said.
