By Becky Walz,
It will be a close-knit bunch that jumps into the pool this season for the Decorah girls’ swim and dive team.
With 28 athletes anxious to make a splash at the state meet, the Viking swim team could go far this year.
Leading the way are Co-Head Coaches Loren Storts and Maddy Putnam. They take over for Allie Bachelder and Molly Holkesvik.
It will be a close-knit bunch that jumps into the pool this season for the Decorah girls’ swim and dive team.
With 28 athletes anxious to make a splash at the state meet, the Viking swim team could go far this year.
Leading the way are Co-Head Coaches Loren Storts and Maddy Putnam. They take over for Allie Bachelder and Molly Holkesvik.
A strong 2021
Last year, the Vikes had 41 athletes ready to fight for a spot in the varsity line-up. With 17 returning letter winners, and a strong group of underclassmen, it was a battle in the lanes.
It was a great day at the conference meet, with the Vikes earning the crown for the second year in a row, claiming five titles. Maeley Nefzger, Margaret Rhodes, Emily Voyna and Paige Werner opened the day in the 200 medley relay with a winning time of 1:55.00. Julia Alberts followed suit in the 200 free, touching the wall first in 2:03.83. Rhodes kept the ball rolling in the 200 individual medley in 2:19.36, and later added a second gold in the 500 free in 5:26.64. Werner won her second race of the day in the 50 free in 25.51 seconds.
Two weeks later at the regional meet, the Vikes came in third with 281.50 points and qualified 10 events for the state meet. Moving on were Brinley Krivachek and Kailyn O’Gara in diving, the 200 medley relay, Werner in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, Julia Alberts in the 100 freestyle, Voyna in the 100 butterfly, Rhodes in the 500 freestyle, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
The season ended on a strong note in Marshalltown. Diver Brinley Krivachek finished 11th at state, while O’Gara concluded the season in 27th.
The 200 medley relay of Negzer, Rhodes, Voyna and Werner finished 22nd in 1:55.47. Werner clocked in at 25.19 seconds in the 50 freestyle in 29th and finished 32nd in the 100 freestyle in 55.75 seconds. Posting a time of 56.09 seconds in the 100 freestyle, Alberts finished 30th overall. Voyna’s time of 1:02.23 had her finish 30th in the 100 butterfly and Rhodes concluded the 500 freestyle in 5:22.28 to finish 22nd. It was a 19th place finish for the 200 freestyle relay in 1:43.32. Members of that relay were Alberts, Katrina Kovarik, Voyna and Werner. In the water in the 400 freestyle relay was Rhodes, Kovark, Grace Bachelder and Alberts. In 3:45.98, the quartet finished 20th.
Many athletes back
The coaches will have a core group of athletes to work with, having 10 letter winners. Leading the way are five athletes who competed at state, along with alternate Thea Schissel.
“We have a strong returning group of seniors who are ready to lead in and out of the pool this season. They have truly embraced the growth mindset thus far and are willing to put in the work to be successful. We have worked to continue to get the team united in terms of swimming and diving. We’re trying to make sure that everyone is included no matter what they compete in,” said the new coaches. The core will be joined by fellow letter winners Joey Vobr, Mya Redenius, Rebecca Bruening and Kylie O’Hara.
Half of the current roster is seniors and that is a big concern for the new coaches.
“Although it is a strength having such a big group of seniors, it will leave us with holes across the team in the future,” said Coaches Storts and Putnam. “We need to keep working on networking with NST (Northeastern Swim Team) to get a larger number of young swimmers to continue throughout high school.”
Submit A Comment
Fill out the form to submit a comment. All comments require approval by our staff before it is displayed on the website.