By Becky Walz,
The goals are big for the Decorah girls’ swim and dive team in 2021.
With a large group of returning letter winners which includes all the state qualifiers from a year ago, the Vikings are looking for their third straight conference title.
Putting the right combination of athletes in the best events for her sixth season is Head Coach Allie Bachelder. She is joined by assistant Molly Holkesvik.
A good run
With nearly 40 swimmers out for the team in 2020, Bachelder had a lot of talent to utilize in the water.
The Vikings used the regular season to give every athlete a chance to compete going 5-1 in dual meets. Hosting the North Central Conference at the Luther Natatorium, Decorah blasted the competition with 443 points for the title with Boone finishing a distant second with 393. The Vikings took gold in five events in the split event that had Decorah hosting three teams and Williamsburg hosting three. Julia Alberts swam away with the 200 freestyle title in 2:01.18, while Margaret Rhodes won the 200 IM in 2:21.84. Joining in on the gold medal effort was Emily Voyna in the 100 fly in 1:00.58. In 5:39.09, Katerina Kovarik was crowned the 500 freestyle champion. One relay, the 200 freestyle, took first in 1:44.97. Members of the winning team were Voya, Maeley Nefzger, Alberts and Paige Werner.
Moving to the regional meet, Decorah had eight events qualify for the state meet and finished fourth as a team with 280.5 points. Brinley Krivachek qualified for the lone diving event for the Vikings with 380.30 points. Alberts swam her way to state in both the 100 free and 200 free. Werner joined Alberts in the water in the 100 free as an individual qualifier as well. Rhodes was in the water twice individually in the 100 fly and 500 free. Two relays, the 200 free and 400 free, also qualified for state. The 200 free quartet of Werner, Nefzger, Kovarik and Alberts posted the Vikings best state finish in 11th in 1:40.76. Combining in the 400 free were Werner, Grace Bachelder, Kovarik and Alberts.
Graduating from the team were Kiana Folkedahl, Hannah Franzen, Ella Hermeier, Alexis Hogan, Jane Murphy and Mia Smedsrud.
Talent
Bachelder will have her hands full of athletic ability this season, with 17 returning letter winners.
In addition to the returning state qualifiers — Alberts, Werner, Rhodes, G. Bachelder, Nefzger, Kovarik and Krivachek, Coach Bachelder will have Emily Voyna, Ashley Elsbernd, Rebecca Bruening, Rylee Kapler, Kailyn O’Gara, Kylie O’Hara, Mya Redenius, Thea Schissel, Grace Stegen and Joey Vobr back with at least one letter.
Also diving into the pool for the Vikes this season will be Bridget Bentley, Leslie Campbell, Elly Christen, Chloe Chyle, Elly Cicconi, Kendra Elsbernd, Addie Hershberger, Elayna Hook, Lily Iverson, Nadia Johnson, Lauren Johnson, Paige Lange, Erica Ollendick, Annie Ondrashek, Brenna Parker, Kalissa Schmelzer, Autumn Schmitt, Chloe Sheffield, Naomi Simon, Meridian Snitker, Faith Starrett, Corina Timm, McKenzie Tollefson and Jorja Folkedahl.
Goals
With the season soon underway, Bachelder is excited to see how far the team can go with the eye on Decorah’s third consecutive North Central Conference title.
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.