Coming into the 2011 season the Tigers knew they had a tough act to follow. The 2010 team broke eight school records and achieved new school bests in both points (43) and team standing (17th) at the Class AA state meet.
As it turned out the 2012 team will be the one with the tough assignment, namely trying to match the accomplishments of this year's squad that set eight more school records and scored 72 points (13th place) in the state meet.
"The successes the team experienced in the water speak for themselves," coach Jen Marshall said. "What's not as easy to see is how this group of girls respected, encouraged and supported each other. They were true a delight to coach."
In addition to all of the new school records, Marshall said the 2011 season was filled with highlights, including winning the Kennedy Invitational team title; having four athletes (in four events) earn all-state status and traveling to the University of North Dakota for a multi-state meet.
"All of that and this team had the most cohesiveness of any I have had the privilege of working with," Marshall said.
Marshall and her staff awarded varsity letters to 29 athletes at the team's post-season banquet, including seven seniors: Jade Alm, Ashton DeFusco, Abby Haugen, Sarah O'Reilly, Victoria Resch, Samm Smith and Nichole Smithson.
Underclassmen receiving letters included juniors Maddie Alexander, Melanie Brothers, Robin Ellis and Delaney Wright; sophomores Katie Aaron, Nikki Cayard, Brooke Christenson, Sydney Geiger, Chloe Holton, Sara Kintner, Courtney L'Heureux, Kaitlyn O'Reilly, Cora Ruzicka and Hannah Seitzinger; freshmen Zoe Avestruz, Katie King, Kirsten Kracke, Kendall Novak, Ellie Sundet and Hanna Sundt and eighth-graders Chelsea Gehrke and Tori Sontag.
Kaitlyn O'Reilly
MVP, all-state (3 events), all-Missota Conference
MVP Kaitlyn O'Reilly, Avestruz, Kracke and Ruzicka all earned all-Missota Conference honors while Haugen and Seitzinger garnered all-league honorable mention. O'Reilly (3 events), Avestruz (2), Haugen and Kracke each received all-state recognition.
Avestruz took home the Rookie of the Year award and Ruzicka was named the team's hardest worker. Christenson and L"Heureux shared the Most Improved award while Holton was the winner of the Tiger Award.
Even with the loss of seven seniors the Farmington swimming and diving cupboard is hardly bare with three of the four all-state performers having two or more years of competition remaining.
"We will lose some talented swimmers," Marshall said, "but there will be a core group of driven athletes who will work hard to achieve their goals."
As for the senior class, Marshall said it is a group of whom she is extremely proud.
"They all came from differing backgrounds and found a common ground," she said. "They are strong young women who will accomplish much in life.
"I appreciate all they've shared with me and I'm honored to have had the opportunity to work with them and watch them grow into amazing young women."
School records established in 2011:
200 medley relay: K. O'Reilly, Haugen, Avestruz and Kirsten Kracke
200 individual medley: K. O'Reilly
50 freestyle: Avestruz
100 butterfly: Avestruz
100 freestyle: K. O'Reilly
500 freestyle: Ruzicka
100 backstroke: K. O'Reilly
400 freestyle relay: Kracke, Ruzicka, K. O'Reilly and Avestruz
