Duval, Strom tabbed as Swimmers of the Year (VIDEO)

In a sport where every movement is measured meticulously, every second scrutinized, Fort Walton Beach senior Zach Duval and Choctawhatchee senior Olivia Strom managed to approach the 2011 swimming and diving season appearing oblivious to the pressure and expectations that accompanied them.

A year ago, Duval was recognized as the Daily News’ Diver of the Year, while Strom was named the girls’ Swimmer of the Year. Both were state participants and each were named first-team All-Area by the Daily News. Naturally, as they prepared for their senior seasons, those in the swimming community wondered, ‘What could the pair possibly have in store for an encore?’

As it turned out, plenty.

Strom captured a district title in the 200 free and, following a tight second-place finish at region in the same event, placed ninth at state, by far her best showing at state.

Duval, meanwhile, once again dominated the local diving scene and took second at the FHSAA Finals. Perhaps even more impressive, Duval helped propel the Vikings 200 free relay team all the way to state, where it finished 14th.

For their incredible seasons, Duval and Strom have been named the All Sports Association/Daily News’ Swimmers of the Year.

After taking third at state a year ago, Duval credited his year-round diving coach, Barb Parker, for helping him enter his senior year with the proper mindset.

“Just have fun with it,” Duval said. “I was taught by my year-round coach that if you have fun, good things come of it. With diving, you don’t’ want to be mostly serious, you want to be laid back or bad things will happen.”

While his diving repertoire continued to expand, it was in the days leading up to the Region 1-2A meet that Duval displayed what those that know him best believe to be his strongest trait – his selflessness.

Duval, an early favorite in the 1-meter diving competition entering regionals, elected – on his own accord – to also swim in the 200 free relay in hopes of bettering its chances of advancing to state. By competing in the relay, which took place on the same day as the diving competition, Vikings’ coach Pam Braseth said Duval “practically (gave) up a first-place finish for his team.”

He took third in the event.

“He’s always been that team-first person,” Braseth said.

Lindsey Daso, the Fort Walton Beach diving coach, agreed.

“He knew what his ultimate goal was, which was to place as high as he could at state,” Daso said. “He also wanted to get as many kids to state with him as he could, so that’s what he tried to do.”

Duval, who is being heavily recruited by major Division-I programs as both a swimmer and a diver – a rare feat in and of itself – said he didn’t want to go to state alone. After spending his summer in Mobile, Ala., so that he could train with Parker every day rather than once or twice a week, Duval said his senior year could not have gone much better.

“Everyone told me diving was a waste of time and that I wasn’t ever going to go anywhere with it and that I should stick with swimming,” Duval said. “But (diving) was fun to me … so I kept doing it and things led to where they are.”

Strom, like Duval, entered the season eager to build on a strong junior campaign.

“She wasn’t complacent about winning last year,” Choctaw coach Jamie Garea said. “That was not good enough for her, she wanted to do it all again her senior year.”

Instead, Strom surpassed her greatness of 2010 with a 2011 season she won’t soon forget.

At the Okaloosa County Championships, Strom won the 200 IM and the 500 free. She was crowned a district champion in the 200 free (1:58.39) and took second in the 500 free. At region, despite finishing with a better time (1:57.65), Strom took second in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free.

Once at state, Strom continued to shave seconds off her time, taking ninth in the 200 free with a time of 1:57.56.

Strom finished 19th at state as junior in the 500 free.

“Ninth was really good for me,” Strom, who will swim at Air Force next fall, said. “My goal was to place higher at state. I placed as well as I could at finals.”

Daily News All-Area Swimming Team

Girls Swimmer of the Year: Olivia Strom, Choctawhatchee

Boys Swimmer of the Year: Zach Duval, Fort Walton Beach

Coach of the Year: Pam Braseth, Fort Walton Beach

Girls

First team

Brooke Arrington, FWB

Alexa Birmingham, Niceville

Cat Bower, Navarre

Emma Gladstone, FWB

Rachel Gold, Niceville

Jessica Guin, FWB

Haley McWilliams, Niceville

Milbrey Parke, Niceville

Suzi Sober, RBC

Emma Strom, Choctaw

Olivia Strom, Choctaw

Honorable mention

Choctawhatchee: Emma Strom, Rachel Hidalgo, Corinne Hutchison.

Fort Walton Beach: Katherine Stone, Olivia Johnson, Megan Drake, Emma Gladstone, Courtney Frye, Cathryn Laird, Victoria Welborn..

Navarre: Teresa Parsons, Taylor Day.

Niceville: Alex Messmore, Phoebe Anders, Erica Mitchell, Hannah Moore, Sami Chuck, Sophia Bergmann, Sarah Gold, Sarah Thomas, Jordan Pearson, Madison Riley, Kristi King.

Rocky Bayou Christian: Elizabeth Sober, Morgan Milam, Meredith Milam.

Boys

First team

Robbie Amunds, FWB

Chaz Brechler, Niceville

Frank Bruechner, FWB

Zach Duval, FWB

Cody Haeusler, FWB

Chris Hodge, Navarre

Justin Hunt, FWB

Matt Markwardt, Niceville

Nick Miller, FWB

Chandler Moorer, Navarre

Levi Wilke, FWB

Honorable mention

Choctawhatchee: Bryce Munz, Justin Lewis, Drew Holt, Brandon Hidalgo, Daniel Sears, Alex Wentz, Rossor Bridwell.

Fort Walton Beach: Logan Hopper, Garrett Hubbard, Mike Holland, Matt Wise, Noah Williams, Joe Wagner.

Navarre: James Williamson, Forrest Kieffer.

Niceville: Aden Mackenzie, Chase Turner, Brad Ringler, Justin Broaderick, Taylor Brown, Austin Fairchild, Alex Fager, Wyatt Kartvedt, Brandon Velazquez, Teddy Vaughen, Chase Watkins.

Rocky Bayou Christian: Collin Fraizer, Steven Wills, Wesley Bowers.

Follow Travis Downey on Twitter: @TravisDnwfdn