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She may be new, but when it comes to being a head coach Joyce Monk is very experienced. Monk takes over as head coach of the Fergus Falls girls swimming and diving team, replacing Hall-of-Famer Tom Uvaas. She served as head coach of the Otters for a decade and remained as an assistant with Uvaas for many years after that. Now she takes the reigns and will be assisted by Rachel Cox (Varsity Assistant), Trina Weisel (7th & 8th Grade) and Jason Schuetzle (Diving).
The Otters took third place in the Section 8A meet and qualified two relay teams for the state meet. They lost Ella Childs, Julia Swanson, Madison Hubert and Emily Frigard to graduation, with Hubert now swimming for Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall.
Returning varsity swimmers include seniors Brinn Donais, Alanna Keller, Chloe Schindler and Ashley Swanson, juniors Emma Koeckeritz, Emily Werner, Lianna Jepson and Tess Seay, sophomores Emilie Carlson and Shelby Tabbot, and eighth-grader Ainsling Cox.
“We don’t have the depth to compete in the Central Lakes Conference and win meets, so our emphasis is working toward section competition,” stated Monk. “We have a solid group of young swimmers and expect good things to come from several of our swimmers as the season progresses.”
Detroit Lakes, Bemidji and Park Rapids are Monk’s choices as top teams in the Section, with Sartell, Brainerd and St. Cloud Tech the teams to beat the CLC.