Noah Faldet flying solo at state for Decorah boys’ swimming

MARSHALLTOWN - When the parade of teams are announced before Saturday's boys' swimming state championships, Noah Faldet will be an army of one.

For the second year in a row, the South Winneshiek junior will be the lone representative for the Decorah boys' swimming team.

'It's definitely strange seeing all these intimidating, larger teams that's got teams with 40 guys and I'm the only one representing my team,” Faldet said. 'Last year, it was definitely nerve-racking. I think this year I'm coming in with a lot more confidence and I feel prepared to compete against all the best.”

The state meet begins at noon at the Marshalltown YMCA.

Faldet is part of a 100-yard breaststroke field that includes four area swimmers in the final heat. Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Paul Hummell, Iowa City High freshman Forrest Frazier, Ben Berhow of Iowa City West and Faldet comprise seeds four through seven. A No. 7 seed represents a significant jump for Faldet, who finished 21st out of 24 breaststroke swimmers last season.

'It was definitely inspiring to see all the amazing swimmers compete at state last year,” Faldet said. 'As soon as the meet was over, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for this year.”

A full taper has Faldet vying for one of six breaststroke podium spots, a feat achieved by older brothers Nathan Maloney (2009-10) and Mac Faldet (2015). Noah Faldet was named North Central Conference co-athlete of the year after winning the breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley at the conference championships, and was runner-up in both events at the district meet. He missed qualifying for state in the IM by just five hundredths of a second.

'He always knows what he needs to do,” first-year Decorah Coach Laura Storlie said. 'He's been a constant help to the team to make sure that they stay on task and stay dedicated and always working their hardest. He's a good leader.”

Faldet is the first state qualifier for Storlie (formerly Boran), who accepted the coaching position after four years on the Luther women's swimming team. The 23-year-old native of Brainerd, Minn. is also an assistant with the girls' team.

'I was not quite ready to stop being in the swimming world,” Storlie said of the transition to coaching.

While Faldet - who has competed with the Dubuque Area Swimmin' Hurricanes club team since age eight - will be a one-man squad Saturday in Marshalltown, he insists his success is a byproduct of the support he receives from his Decorah teammates.

'They're the best,” Faldet said. 'They always inspire me and I think some of the underclassmen, some of the freshmen, look to me as if I'm immortal or something. … It's all those expectations they have for me, thinking I am some incredible swimmer, that really push me to live up to their standards and really excel.”

IHSAA BOYS' STATE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Where: Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA

First event: 12:30 p.m. (doors open at 11 a.m.)

Tickets: $10

TV: None (streamed live at NFHSNetwork.com)

AREA QUALIFIERS

200 medley relay -

7. Iowa City West (Izaak Hajek, Sam Deyak, Brennon Keen, Ben Berhow), 1:38.67; 9. Iowa City High (Forrest Frazier, Louis Stephan, Eric Thomas, Mickale Sadecky), 1:38.81; 10. Cedar Rapids Washington (Kaleb Donels, George Durin, Zach Kolker, James Breitbart), 1:38.88; 15. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Spencer Davis, Carter Kramer, Cade Schoenaur, Dawson Gibbons), 1:40.28; 24. Linn-Mar (Nick Cavanah, Ethan Schmidt, Sam Peng, Austin Cochrane), 1:43.27.

200 freestyle -

1. Cameron Kelley (C.R. Washington), 1:42.78; 10. Brycen Snell (Linn-Mar), 1:45.57; 15. Jeremy Throndson (C.R. Washington), 1:46.03; 19. Hogan Myers (Linn-Mar), 1:47.12.

200 individual medley -

17. Kaleb Donels (C.R. Washington), 2:01.97; 19. Izaak Hajek (I.C. West), 2:02.13; 19. Eric Thomas (I.C. High), 2:02.17.

50 freestyle -

1. Oliver Martin (I.C. West), 20.66; 9. George Durin (C.R. Washington), 22.00; 10. Matt Peng (Linn-Mar), 22.02; 12. Matthew Mather (Linn-Mar), 22.13; 14. Carter Kramer (C.R. Kennedy), 22.19; 20. Paul Hummell (C.R. Jefferson), 22.34; 23. Brennon Keen (I.C. West), 22.42.

100 butterfly -

3. Cade Schoenauer (C.R. Kennedy), 51.60; 4. Matt Peng (Linn-Mar), 51.71; 11. Izaak Hajek (I.C. West), 52.99; 22. Zach Kolker (C.R. Washington), 55.07; 24. Drew Simmons (C.R. Jefferson), 55.24.

100 freestyle -

3. Oliver Martin (I.C. West), 46.27; 9. Brycen Snell (Linn-Mar), 49.01.

500 freestyle -

3. Cameron Kelley (C.R. Washington), 4:42.62; 5. Jeremy Throndson (C.R. Washington), 4:45.96; 6. Hogan Myers (Linn-Mar), 4:46.38; 17. Nick Cavanah (Linn-Mar), 4:52.82; 19. Zach Kolker (C.R. Washington), 4:53.45; 20. Lane Griffis (I.C. West), 4:53.71.

200 freestyle relay -

5. Iowa City West (Noah Bruns, Ben Berhow, Ethan McAreavy, Oliver Martin), 1:27.89; 7. Linn-Mar (Matt Peng, Brycen Snell, Matthew Mather, Hogan Myers), 1:28.05; 9. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Carter Kramer, Dawson Gibbons, Cade Schoenauer, Sean Casey), 1:28.37;; 13. Cedar Rapids Washington (James Breitbart, Ethan Ford, Jeremy Throndson, Cameron Kelley), 1:29.49.

100 backstroke -

2. Forrest Frazier (I.C. High), 52.45; 3. Kaleb Donels (C.R. Washington), 52.87; 17. Ethan Ford (C.R. Washington), 55.32; 18. Eric Thomas (I.C. High), 55.89.

100 breaststroke -

4. Paul Hummell (C.R. Jefferson), 59.27; 5. Forrest Frazier (I.C. High), 59.46; 6. Ben Berhow (I.C. West), 59.76; 7. Noah Faldet (Decorah), 59.96; 12. Louis Stephan (I.C. High), 1:00.39; 16. Sam Deyak (I.C. West), 1:01.32.

400 freestyle relay -

4. Cedar Rapids Washington (George Durin, Jeremy Throndson, Kaleb Donels, Cameron Kelley), 3:12.43; 5. Linn-Mar (Matt Peng, Matthew Mather, Hogan Myers, Brycen Snell), 3:12.60; 8. Iowa City West (Noah Bruns, Izaak Hajek, Brennon Keen, Oliver Martin), 3:14.67); 18. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Clark Montover, Spencer Davis, Sean Casey, Cade Schoenauer), 3:19.70.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com