Orvis attempts to defend state swim title

Allison Orvis has already penned a chapter in the athletics record book at Decorah High School.

Whether there is more to add to the story is left to be determined.

Orvis became the first Viking girls swimmer to capture an individual state title, winning the 200 individual medley last fall. The Decorah senior will attempt to defend her title as Monday marks the first official day of competition for 2011 regular season.

The season comes with higher expectations. Orvis has dedicated more time in the offseason to strength training and is more physically prepared for competition.

"Right now, I'm actually feeling really good," Orvis said. "I'm feeling really great about this season."

Orvis was a regular on the state podium last season. Not only did she reach the top platform by winning the 200 IM in 2 minutes, 5.32 seconds, she was also runner-up in the 100 back with a second and sixth as a member of Decorah's 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. The Vikings finished a school-record sixth in the final team standings.

"I think it was a really motivating end of the season for her last year," Decorah Coach Stephanie Huber said. "She has a lot of excitement and focus going into this year."

The bar has been raised from being the present best to the all-time best. Orvis' state title time was the second-fastest time in state meet history. She would like to eclipse the mark of 2:04.24 set by West Des Moines Valley's Danielle Harris in 2008.

"That would be awesome," Orvis said. "I'm positive I can do it."

Huber is just as confident.She has seen Orvis return to the varsity season with added motivation to achieve specific goals.

"She has her sights set on the state record," Huber said. "That's definitely within her reach, but she'll still have to work for it."

Work ethic has never been an issue for Orvis, who spends a lot of time training and working hard to develop weaker strokes according to Huber. Her devotion to swimming is balanced by a fun-loving attitude away from it. .

"She's very laid back. She has such a bright smile all the time," Huber said. "She knows how to turn it on when it's time for swimming and works hard at practice. When she's not at the pool, she's focused on the rest of her life."

One that started in California before moving to Decorah when she was 7 years old. She started swimming about age 6 and started competing at 14. She is one of four siblings and is a triplet with brothers, Erik and Jason, who also swim for Decorah. The trio battled to be the best swimmer at the start.

"When we were younger I would say I was the fastest one, but as they matured they eventually got faster than me," Orvis said. "It was funny. We were definitely competitive."

That streak seems to have propelled her to success that could lead to Orvis being Decorah's most decorated swimmer at season's end. She has qualified for state in the maximum of four events each of her first three years, reaching the podium in 10 of 12 races. The only times she didn't collect a medal were in 2008 when the Vikings' 400 free relay placed seventh, a little more than a half-second out of sixth, and in the 200 medley relay in 2009. The medley relay team appeared to win, but was disqualified when another swimmer left the blocks early.

"She has an amazing body position in the water, which is huge," Huber said about Orvis' ability. "It can transition into any stroke."

Orvis has proven herself in distance events, placing sixth and fifth as a freshman and sophomore in the 500 free. The 200 IM is a prime example of Orvis' versatility in the water. She can handle almost any stroke,  swimming 50 meters in the butterfly, back, breaststroke and free in her championship event. The back and free are her favorite disciplines, but she understands the need to be efficient in all of them.

"It's good to be well-rounded in all the strokes for the IM," Orvis said. "Nobody's ever perfect in all the events, but there's always one stroke that will pull through."

Orvis is optimistic for herself and the team. She would like to help the Vikings crack the top five at state for the very first time. What will satisfy her when the season ends?

"That we can look back and we all can say we had a really fun season, worked hard and did our best and in the end it worked out," Orvis said. "We should have an amazing year."