FWB's Braseth named Coach of the Year

Prior to the start of the season, Fort Walton Beach swim coach Pam Braseth felt that while her team might have lacked in experience, it more than made up for in gumption.

Above all else, they were “coachable.”

“Regardless of their skill level, they are working hard, they are enthusiastic and they are coachable,” Braseth said at the time. “I’ve found myself walking along a couple of times thinking, ‘I love my job.’”

After once again capturing an Okaloosa County Championship (boys) and enjoying success at the district and regional levels, Braseth’s Vikings were the only area team to advance boys and girls to the FHSAA Finals. For her work in leading the Vikings, Braseth has been named the All Sports Association/Daily News swim Coach of the Year.

It marks the second such award for Braseth in three years.

Braseth said the award was not hers alone, crediting the Vikings diving coach, Lindsey Daso, for the program’s success.

“Without her coaching of our nine divers and her contributions to the swim coaching, the Vikings would not have achieved the high level of success seen this year,” Braseth said.

Fort Walton Beach and an area-best 11 athletes advanced to the state meet. On the girls’ side, the Vikings’ 200 free relay team of Jessica Guin, Katherine Stone, Olivia Johnson and Brooke Arrington moved on while on the boys’ side, Zach Duval (1-meter diving), Levi Wilke (500 free) and Justin Hunt (100 breast) advanced as individuals. Frank Bruechner, Nick Miller, Robby Amunds and Cody Hauesler moved on in the 200 free relay.

“That was exciting on a lot of different levels,” Braseth said. “It was exciting on the level that we were able to accomplish that and to be the only team in the area to do that.”

For a year that began with its fair share of question marks, Braseth called it a success after seeing so many different athletes continually strive for more.

“I don’t know if I’d say I was surprised, but I was certainly pleased that they reached their potential,” Braseth said. “It was unique to have an entire team of coachable athletes. They all wanted to do better, they all wanted to get better and they were all willing to listen about how to do that.”

Follow Travis Downey on Twitter: @TravisDnwfdn