High School State Championships: North Dakota Girls

BISMARCK, North Dakota, November 11. THE Fargo North Spartans were the first team in eastern North Dakota to take home a swimming state championship since 1977, when the Spartans last won the team title. In so doing, Fargo North denied the Century Patriots a fourth consecutive title.

Fargo North scored 386 points to defeat Bismarck Century, 386-336. Minot finished in third with 266 points. In a very tight battle for fourth, West Fargo edged out Williston, 220-218.

Emily Roche, a senior at Fargo North, earned Senior Athlete of the Year honors. In two very close races, she grabbed titles in both the 50 free (24.20-24.24 over Jarren Fallgatter, a senior at Century) and the 100 free (53.43 to West Fargo freshman Hallie Peterson's 53.48). Emily also led off the state record-setting 400 free relay of 3:34.29 with freshman Leann Mengelkoch, sophomore Ellie Roche and junior Maddie Derby. The previous mark was 3:36.47 by Century set last year. Ellie Roche picked up an individual victory in the 200 IM (2:08.67).

Sophomore Dani Bergeson was the leader of the Century squad. She lowered West Fargo's Kelsey Schoonhoven's 2005 state record of 56.72 in the 100 back to 55.68, and posted a second win in the 200 free (1:52.37). Bergeson's teammate, senior Veronica Herrmann, posted a winning 1:05.59 in the 100 breast. Together with Fallgatter and senior McKenzie Jeske, the duo lowered the state record in the 200 medley relay to 1:46.98 from the 1:47.97 the Century team set last year.

West Fargo's 200 free relay quartet of Peterson, sophomore Brianna Faul, plus juniors Julissa Johnson and Danica Dutt, finished in first with their 1:39.90. Dutt's 57.09 in the 100 fly earned her the state title in that event.

Grand Forks Central junior Katie Svendsen put together a 5:06.25 to claim victory in the 500 free. The top diver this year proved to be Alex Lind, a senior at Jamestown (453.80 points).

Fargo North's coach, Talia Butery, was recognized as the Coach of the Year for 2012.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x