<p>In July of last year, Bella Ratzlaff was in Bloomington watching her cousin, Cade Oliver, swim at the Indiana Senior State meet. As Oliver racked up half a dozen top-five finishes, including a win in the 200-meter backstroke, Ratzlaff heard her mother quip, "Wow, Franklin’s doing something right."</p>
<p>The statement got the wheels spinning in the head of Ratzlaff, who was already taking the summer off from swimming because she "was falling out of love" with it and also struggling to find much passion academically. When Bella and her younger brother, Mac, both volunteered that they were having trouble getting excited about looking at colleges, Mom had heard enough.</p>
<p>"She said, ‘That’s scary. We’re moving,’" Bella recalled.</p>
<p>So the Ratzlaffs left Indian Creek and went to Franklin for the 2018-19 school year; their transfer went through just three days before classes began. The move didn’t come without a price — in addition to angering some folks at their old high school, Bella and Mac — both 2018 state qualifiers for the Braves — were denied eligibility by the IHSAA and had to sit last swim season out.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>Despite that, neither has any regrets.</p>
<p>"It’s been so worth the wait," Bella said. "If I hadn’t moved to Franklin, I wouldn’t be where I am. I wouldn’t be the person I am. I’ve completely changed for the better. All the people I’ve met have made me a better person."</p>
<p>"I think my work ethic has definitely developed since I came over," Mac added, "and since I’ve transferred here I’ve felt like it rejuvenated my love for swimming. Every day I come to the pool, I’m just happier than I was."</p>
<p>That has been pretty evident thus far. Mac, a junior, has made an immediate impact for the Grizzly Cubs. He won both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle titles at the Johnson County meet earlier this month. Bella, a senior, was second in the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.</p>
<p>Each has brought a unique personality to the Franklin team. Bella is the loud, spirited cheerleader who could be heard from the IU Natatorium bleachers while she watched the Grizzly Cub girls finish second in the state last winter. Mac, according to coach Zach DeWitt, is "more of a lone wolf," a guy who sometimes prefers to train in his own lane and kind of do his own thing.</p>
<p>Both, though, have clearly rediscovered their drive.</p>
<p>For Mac, right now, that means excelling in the pool. He made state in four events as an Indian Creek freshman, but having to sit out last February has left him beyond hungry for more.</p>
<p>"It made me starving," he said. "I think about it every day. I think about how I can score more points. It’s just a drive now.</p>
<p>"I won’t settle for anything less than top three at state; that’s the only thing I really focus on."</p>
<p>Closer to the end of high school, Bella has had her focus elsewhere. Sure, she also has big goals for herself and her team this postseason, but she’s also found the path for her future. A little less than a month ago, she signed a letter of intent to swim at the Air Force Academy.</p>
<p>That’s certainly not where she saw herself headed a couple of years ago. Even though (or perhaps because) her father is in the Air Force, Bella was a bit hesitant about going there. She recalls her dad being deployed for months at a time while she was in middle and intermediate school, and how hard it was on her — especially around Veterans’ Day, when she would often be asked to speak publicly about it during school ceremonies.</p>
<p>"I always wrote the best speech, because mine was about my dad," she said, "and everybody was like, ‘Oh, that touches my heart; go give this speech in front of hundreds of veterans.’"</p>
<p>Bella credited Air Force assistant coach Athena Miller with helping her get over her misgivings and reminding her of the opportunities that coming to the academy would offer — including the chance to become an officer, get into medical research and become a pilot like her father.</p>
<p>Over time, it all came into focus.</p>
<p>"It had always been something like, ‘I’d love to serve, but I don’t know if it’s for me,’" Bella said, "and I know it’s for me now."</p>
<p>A year and a half ago, such clarity didn’t seem possible for the Ratzlaffs. But just when both had seemingly hit a dead end, a chance conversation that started in the bleachers at a swim meet wound up opening up a whole new world of possibilities.</p>
<p>To some extent, it still doesn’t seem real. But every so often, it sinks in.</p>
<p>"Mostly when I’m swimming backstroke, for some reason," Bella Ratzlaff said. "I’m like, ‘These aren’t my ceilings’ — but they’re my ceilings now. It’s crazy that life can change so quickly just because you need something and people are willing to make that change for you. I’m really glad that, with how little I’ve been here, it’s become such a big part of me already."</p>
