Grand Forks girls swimming coach Bryan Walls has a few questions that have yet to be answered about the upcoming season. One mystery that he has solved, however, is who will be favored to win the distance freestyle events at the state meet.
"Unless she gets hurt or disqualified, Ali Church will win the 200 meter freestyle and the 500 meter freestyle," said Walls.
Church, a Grand Forks Central senior, is no stranger to performing well in those races. She has taken first place in both events at the state meet.
Two years in a row.
Last season's state meet races weren't close. Church won the 200 freestyle by five seconds, and the 500 freestyle by nine seconds -- outswimming Grand Forks Red River senior Addy DiChristina in both events.
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"She is just a phenomenally strong athlete," Walls said of Church. "She might not have the cleanest stroke I have ever coached, but she is mentally tough and works really hard. When it comes time to perform, she is always ready."
Church is not the only Knights' swimmer that excels at the distance events. Sophomore Katie Svendson and senior Rachel Svendson also were in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle finals at state in 2010.
"We have a bunch of really good distance swimmers," said Walls. "We should have a very strong showing at state in those events."
Central also has a pair of sophomores that will help the Knights contend in other events. Nicole Brelie made the state meet in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley in 2010, while Molly Sand qualified for the 100 freestyle.
Distance also is the specialty of Grand Forks Red River. DiChristina, who plans on swimming at UND next year, will be pushing her crosstown rival all year. Junior Brianna Schmidt took fourth place at state in the 200 freestyle last season, and fifth in the 100 freestyle.
Many of Red River's top swimmers graduated. Erin Grabanski, 2010 state champion in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley, and Mirna Kojic, a top-three finisher in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, are gone, leaving a big hole to fill.
"We are in a rebuilding year in every sense of the phrase," said Walls, who does double duty as the coach of the Roughriders too. "We do have a few girls that will be competitive, but our team is young."
Filling the rosters of both teams has proven to be difficult for Walls. "Our biggest challenge in Grand Forks is just getting kids to come swim," Walls said. "If we can get more girls to come swim, we could be really good."
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"We have the individual titles. The one thing that has been eluding us is a team title. We would love to bring one of those to Grand Forks."
Jeffries reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1268; (800) 477-6572, ext. 268; or send e-mail to gfsports@gfherald.com .
