By Ryan Killian
Daily Texan

Safety first. That's what Doris Wanezek thought when she decided to enroll each of her children in swimming lessons. The family camped often and had a pool in the backyard. It was a prudent decision that has since paid unexpected dividends.

All four children grew into collegiate swimmers. Along the way, some have set state records in high school and competed in Olympic trials. They are All-Americans, All-Big 10 and All-Big 12.

Sarah Wanezek was the third-born and now swims for Texas. Her brother Tom, the oldest of the four, swam at Indiana University. Sister Andrea swam in the family's home state at the University of Wisconsin, just as younger sister Tina is now doing. They have come a long way since swimming lessons and a back-yard pool. The first move was making the team.

"My brother started out swimming, and we all sort of followed. We had a knack for it," Sarah said.

Naturally athletic, the Wanezek siblings dabbled in basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and soccer. But once they hit their teens, each decided to concentrate on swimming.

"They were all pretty self-motivated," Doris said. Tina required "a bit more coaxing," but as her brother and sisters had before her, she came to love the sport and appreciate her talent in it.

As fellow Texas swimmer and Sarah's roommate Amanda Lawrence will tell you, the Wanezeks are a very tight-knit family. Tina says she is closest with Sarah, and had it not been for swimming, she could have followed her to Texas.

"I would have probably loved to go [to Texas] for school to be close to my sister," Tina said.

But she chose to pursue swimming at Wisconsin, a better fit for her current level of competition.

Swimming at Wisconsin, both Andrea and Tina have faced Sarah at the Texas Invitational. They all enjoyed the meet and aren't afraid to cheer for each other, though their team colors no longer match.

Record-setting high school careers catapulted them into the world of collegiate athletics. Their introduction to that world began with the recruiting process.

The closeness of their family should not be confused with dependency. During recruiting periods, the Wanezek parents were always sure to let their children make the decisions.

When Sarah decided to move more than 1,200 miles from home to come to Austin, her family was very supportive.

"Sarah really just loved Texas," her mother said. "We knew it as soon as she got off the plane."

Her sisters agreed that she seemed very excited about living in Austin and that the excitement was infectious.

Tina's decision to follow her eldest sister's path to Wisconsin was just as delightful for Andrea, now an elementary school teacher in Delaware.

"It was really fun to see her go to my alma mater," she said.

Motivation, from whatever source, is a key in swimming, and the Wanezeks have used each other for it. As the youngest, Tina is now able to draw on her siblings' past successes for strength.

"I strive for what they've already achieved," she said.

Another benefit of being part of their large family is the comfort the natural support system has provided.

"I could lean on my sisters if I had any issues," Andrea said.

The competitive spirit and supportive upbringing molded the Wanezek siblings into who they are today. Swimming, a key ingredient for them, is just that - an ingredient. As their mother said, "Swimming is just something they do. It's not who they are."