Martell signs to swim at UW-Green Bay

After finishing in 15th place in the 100 breaststroke at the WIAA Division 1 state meet on Saturday in Madison, Bonduel senior Clare Martell officially committed Tuesday to swim at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next fall.

Martell, who verbally committed to the program last fall, finished her high school swim career with a time of 1:07.11, the fastest time of the season.

“I was glad I got my season’s best time,” Martell said. “I was a little disappointed I didn’t get my personal best time. I have the opportunity to work harder and get my personal best time.

Muskego’s Lauren Stigler took home the 100 breaststroke title with a time of 1:02.97.

Just three days later, she was joined at Bonduel High School by her parents, friends, current and past swim coaches and administration from Bonduel High School to celebrate signing her National Letter of Intent to swim on scholarship in Green Bay.

“I’m excited about the program there and the ability to swim at that high of a level at Division 1 swimming,” her father Tom Martell said.

Shawano Community Swim Club coach Paul Villez recounted his time working with Clare Martell, starting nearly 10 years ago.

Villez has a daughter competing at the collegiate level, at Western Illinois, so he understands the effort Clare Martell went through to earn this opportunity.

“I loved coaching her because I’d tell her what to do, and she’d go do it,” Villez said. “Where other kids are like, ‘Oh, this is too hard. I don’t want to,’ she would ask for more, kind of thing. She just loves to work.”

It was that work ethic that earned her an opportunity to advance her swimming career and get a chance to compete for four more seasons.

“I’ve always, since I was little, wanted to continue swimming into college,” Clare Martell said. “As a freshman, I was like, ‘I’m going to try to be able to swim D1.’ And now, I’m finally able to reach my goal.”