Fun, friends lead to success for Decorah swimmers

DECORAH – The goals may not be exactly what you expect from a program that's one the verge of being among the state's top teams for the first time.The Decorah Viking girls swim team is determined to have fun, make new friends and improve their ability. The goal is to achieve those basics and reap the rewards in competition.“We kind of lay those down as priorities first,” Decorah Coach Stephanie Huber said. “It's neat that some of the other successes fall in line after that.”Decorah have accomplished plenty of success recently, placing seventh at last year's state meet for the second straight season. The Vikings return all but two point scorers from the 2009 squad and are poised to make a run at cracking the state's top-five this season.“We have a lot of talent coming back,” Huber said. “We have a lot of swimmers who have been at state before and kind of know what to shoot for.”Fun, camaraderie and getting better each time they hit the pool comes first, but that can be hard to do since teammates don't roam the same halls between classes, live in the same neighborhoods or even share the same zip code.The Vikings, who will attempt to claim their seventh straight North Central Iowa Swim Conference title, are made up of swimmers who attend Decorah, Crestwood, North Fayette, Valley Community and Waukon. Huber said the swimmers from North Fayette drive 30 minutes to attend practice.Huber attempts to force the issue, putting the team in situations where they need to get to know their teammates. The team tends to do that on their own and she praised how well they work together.“They do a remarkable job of crossing over the lines,” Huber said. “You'd never guess that they were all from different schools.”Half of the 29-person roster are newcomers to the program and many of those are from other schools. It hasn't hampered team chemistry, and has been easier than previous years, according to senior Hannah Maher.“It's definitely like one town is over here and one town is over here … everybody is all swimming together,” Maher said. “There's always a mix of the towns. I think we're meshing really well.”Huber takes pride in seeing the team unite. She said the swimmers show a tendency to elevate the team goals ahead of their own ambitions.“To me as a coach, that's the first thing I want to see in the season above and beyond what place we make at state,” said Huber, calling the new swimmers coachable, good listeners and eager to improve. “To me, that's a big success.”The senior class can take some of the credit. Their leadership has helped pull everyone together, according to Huber. They've been at the forefront of the Vikings success, leading them to 11th at the state meet as freshmen before setting a school record with a seventh-place state finish.“The seniors have done a great job teaching everybody what this team is about,” Huber said. “It's more about teamwork than just swimming.”The philosophy has netted solid results, and the Vikings return a strong nucleus of swimmers with experience to continue them. They return Maher, who is a six-time individual state medalist. and her twin sister, Mary Kathryn Maher, who placed 10th in the 500 free at state last year. Allison Orvis, a junior, reached the podium twice in 2009, placing fifth in the 500 free and sixth in the 200 free. Diver Marea Holkesvik placed sixth last year and Lauren Smith was a state placewinner in the 50 free.“Some of the seniors have been to state all three years,' Huber said. “They're looking to see us take it up a notch or two.”Hannah Maher is not only one of the three-time state qualifiers, but she's stood on the awards stand for each individual event she's competed at state. As a freshman, she earned third-place medals in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Maher improved those placings as a sophomore, earning runner-up honors in both events.Just like the team goals, Maher is set on improving first. If that happens, then she will be in line to conclude her varsity career with a medal sweep.“That's always first. Drop time, drop time, drop time,” said Maher, who was third in both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke last season. “I'd like to stay top three in my two individual (races).“Just hope for the best and see what happens.”