It was weird enough that previously silent mouths were tossing her compliments, that reporters traveled great distances to watch her swim laps.
Now Stacy Busack would be expected to fire up that expansive smile and stand before the Fergus Falls High student body -- at a pep rally devoted entirely to her? (The last such spirit fest, by the way, culminated with a bathroom fire.)
No thanks.
"We had other girls at state, too," said Busack, who coaxed Otters athletic director Gary Schuler into making Friday's event a team showcase. "They worked really hard."
Initially shy, though she may be, Busack is accustomed to standing out -- she's just not used to actually standing while doing so.
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Saturday the Fergus Falls junior capped a record season by winning the 50-meter freestyle (23.59 seconds) and the 100-meter freestyle (51.74) at the Class 1A state meet, breaking state records in each.
"I had an epiphany," Busack said.
What she didn't have was trouble lapping the competition.
Her time in the 50 free was .88 seconds ahead of the runner-up and would have placed Busack second in the Class 2A race. Her mark in the 100 bested the second-place finisher by 2.9 seconds and would have won the big-school event. Both times earned her All-American status.
"It didn't even feel that fast," Busack said of her fourth state-tournament trip, "because I was concentrating on moving my arms."
That's a lot to think about. Busack stands 5-foot-11¾ with the wingspan of an adult condor. But her ability goes beyond long arms and lineage (older brother Kyle was a five-time section champion).
"I love to train," Busack said. "And I get cranky if I don't get to swim -- at least that's what my mom says."
But it's not just swimming. Busack's morning workout consists of weights and dry-land training. Then it's after-school practice and more weights.
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In between, she carries a 3.8 grade-point average and plays the bass clarinet.
"These are the kind of kids we want to recognize," Schuler said.
Busack, however, would obviously prefer to stay in the pool.
Something else
Moorhead divers Kira Hausuer, a seventh grader, and Kylene Ramsey, a freshman, also competed in the girls state swimming meet, although in Class 2A. Neither advanced to the finals. ... A proposal to add boys lacrosse as a sanctioned sport failed at Tuesday's Minnesota State High School League meeting. The final vote was 53-30 in favor of the motion, but that was two tallies shy of the necessary two-thirds majority. There are 44 boys club teams in the state, with eight schools offering letters. The high school league sponsored its first girls lacrosse state tournament in the spring of 2002. Supporters of boys sanctioning said they will bring up their proposal again ... Pelican Rapids was named academic state champions in girls cross country. ... The Fergus Falls boys and Moorhead girls won Class 2A, Section 8 academic soccer titles. Ben Jurgens of the Otters was also named boys assistant coach of the year in Section 8. ... The 9-man football all-state academic team includes wide receiver/safety Tom Scheid of Fergus Falls Hillcrest, quarterback Kyle Rylander of Ashby, running back/defensive back Marco Smith of Wheaton and center/defensive end Jason Kneisl of Verndale. ... The fledgling Victory Sports Network plans to televise nine prep hockey games this winter, beginning with
the South St. Paul at Cloquet/Esko/ Carlton girls game, a rematch of last year's Class 2A title contest, on Dec. 2. The Feb. 3 boys matchup between rivals Roseau and Warroad will also be aired. One problem: few area cable providers currently carry VSN, which is also slated be the broadcast home of the University of Minnesota and Twins baseball.
Readers can reach Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548 or tvandrovec@forumcomm.com
