Jennifer Steffel can hear the music blaring as she walks down the hallway leading to the Ashwaubenon High School pool.

It's an instant indicator to the Jaguars' first-year swim coach that practice has started and one of Ashwaubenon's senior captains, Andrea Teske, is close by.

It's a routine Steffel has grown accustomed to this season and one the Jaguars believe has helped lift them to this Friday's WIAA Division 2 state swimming and diving meet, where Ashwaubenon will compete in six events.

"Andrea was responsible for music this year and it's usually loud — I mean really loud," Steffel said, laughing. "It pumps them up. They've been doing it all year."

Teske leads the group of Ashwaubenon swimmers to state after winning two events at last Saturday's Stevens Point Sectional in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. She also qualified as a member of the Jaguars' 400-yard freestyle relay team.

As a sophomore, Teske medaled with a sixth-place finish in the D2 200 freestyle and took seventh in the 500 freestyle.

Teske didn't qualify for the state meet last season when the Jaguars bumped up to D1, but she is looking forward to her return engagement at state.

When given the chance to control the practice music this season, Teske tried to use it as a motivational tool.

"You want the team to be just as motivated as you," Teske said. "For me, music is a key in my training because it pumps me up. When I'm on my way down to state, I'll be listening to my music the whole way down. Having control of that, I think really helped to motivate the team."

The Jaguars' 400-relay team, consisting of Teske, senior Erika Pliner, and sophomores Hannah Wikum and Mary Stone, is aiming to break the five-year school record in the event, which stands at 3:43.00. The team swam a 3:43.97 at sectionals last Saturday.

The Jaguars have the pedigree to do it, too. Wikum was the Stevens Point Sectional champion in the 100 freestyle while Pliner finished third in the 100 backstroke at D1 state last season.

The Jaguars' main goal, however, is just to relax and give it their best shot on Friday.

"We want our swimmers to shine, but we're a team," Steffel said. "We're bringing multiple events down to the University of Wisconsin and that's something to really be proud. It's really not about where we place, it's about being a team and doing the best we can do."