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Small team, huge success
Published 6:12pm Tuesday, February 2, 2010The Fergus Falls boys swimming and diving team has strength in its numbers.
For the undefeated Otters, however, its all about quality, not quantity.
With only 15 athletes on the roster, coach Tom Uvaas is afforded the opportunity to work one-on-one with each swimmer and concentrate on their individual strengths and weaknesses.
“We are so good because we are so small,” Uvaas said. “We as coaches can see everything. We have time to correct something if it’s not right, even the small things.”
Uvaas also says it takes a special type of athlete to succeed with such limited numbers.
“This is a team that loves to train,” Uvaas said. “It’s a coach’s dream.”
Added All-American junior Mike Hurley: “We are such a versatile team. We can move people around to different events and not miss a beat.”
That’s exactly what the Otters did a couple weeks ago against Brainerd.
Coach Uvaas made a simple switch in the 200-yard medley relay team, putting Hurley in the front. This allowed Fergus to gain a substantial lead before Erik Money, Eben Danielson and Jacob Fisher finished off the blue-ribbon time. The five points gained by the Otters in the event made the difference in a 95-91 victory.
“Something’s gotten into him,” Hurley said of Uvaas. “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s gotten a little more strategic with the rotation. He’s played a huge role in our success. We wouldn’t be where we are right now without him.”
The Fergus swimming program has blown past its preseason expectations and solidified a spot as one of the highest-ranked teams in Class 1A. As of Tuesday evening, the Otters were ranked No. 7 with a perfect 10-0 record.
“I knew we were going to be good at the beginning of the season,” Money said. “But to be honest, I couldn’t imagine this level of success.”
With each victory, which includes a first place finish at the Otter Invite at the beginning of the season, Uvaas’ bunch has gained confidence, and in the process, raised their expectations.
“We’ve raised our standards,” Money said. “As we started winning, we began to realize that this team can win the conference and beyond. At this point, each one of us has individual goals, but we all know that every race has an impact on each other. Team goals always come first.”
Danielson couldn’t agree more.
“Everyone plays a part,” he said. “Sure, we have guys that win more events than others, but we all know that every event counts. We always try to encourage each other and stay positive.”
The Otters are also wrestling with an interesting age dynamic as the roster includes seventh-graders in middle school all the way to seniors preparing for college.
So far, the team has embraced the age differential and actually used it to their advantage.
“They add character,” Hurley said. “The younger guys bring energy and enthusiasm. Its adds some flair to this team. We can learn from them and they can learn from us. They’re the next generation and we want to pass along to them everything we know.”
Added Uvaas: “There is no pecking order with this team. It’s as comfortable as ever. You’ll see a seventh-grader stand next to a guy like Mike Hurley and both will feel 100 percent comfortable. They help each other in so many different ways. It’s incredible.”
The Otters square off against perhaps their biggest threat in the Central Lakes Thursday evening when St. Cloud Tech rolls into town.
For the Otters, beating the mighty Tigers would just be another step forward in what has been a progressive season full of leaps and bounds.
“We’ll find out a lot more about ourselves Thursday against Tech,” Danielson said. “They’re a good team, but we know we can beat them. We’ve come really far this season.’
