With a lot of new faces walking the halls, junior Danika Fessenden stands out from the rest as a tall, athletic, confident, student-athlete.
This year, Fessenden transferred from Cedar Springs for a “better opportunity with swimming and [her] career,” primarily because they don’t have a swim team. Since joining Northview, with swimming post-high school as an important goal, Fessenden hasn’t regretted one second of her choice.
“Deciding to switch schools was good for me,” Fessenden said. “It’ll challenge me more through high school and club season, and having [my teammates] push how I train in high school will give me better opportunities to get scouted by college coaches.”
Fessenden has made a name for herself in the pool but has also impacted her teammates and coaches. Head coach Rob Damuth loves her attitude and drive for swimming.
“I think she’s got a great bubbly attitude,” Damuth said. “She’s very positive. She fits in great with our group of girls and loves to have fun. At the same time, [she] works extremely hard. I think that she just fits the model of a Northview swimmer.”
freestyle at the Conference meet. She is excited to re-set it this weekend.
Photo credit to Jodi Fessenden.
Senior and captain of the swim team, Hasten Horling, agrees.
“Danika brings a lot of team spirit. I know that she swims club and high school [is] something new to her but she came into it open-minded, which was good,” Horling said. “She’s a team swimmer and that’s what we need.”
Fessenden is driven by her team mentality. After her first Conference meet, she’s more than ready to see what she can do to help the team at the State meet.
“I’m excited to see what we can do at States because Conference was really fast,” Fessenden said. “I think states [is going to] be really fun.”
For Fessenden, States will be more than fun. She will be swimming in some of her favorite events and has an opportunity to be on multiple relays. Coach Damuth particularly respects that part of Fessenden.
“I think her [best attributes] surround her versatility. We’ve used her in the [individual medley] to the five,” Damuth said. “She’s learning how to sprint, she showed that at Conferences, being able to go 24.6 [in the 50 freestyle]. As she gets that sprinter side of herself, she’s just gonna make herself more marketable as a college-level athlete.”
Building her sprinting was tough, but Fessenden pushed herself to get better every day.
“At the beginning of the season, it was really hard, and sticking with it was challenging,” Fessenden said. “But it’s [been] really fun.”
Now, Fessenden is going into the state meet as one of the top athletes for Division II. Coach Damuth has high goals for her to wrap up the season.
“I’d love for her to make top eight in both her individuals,” Damuth said. “She’s going to be on some relays that have a chance to be top three in the state.”
Fessenden is eager to race, and especially “excited to set the 200 freestyle record”; most importantly, she is enthusiastic to experience her first state meet with her Wildcat teammates.
“Our state team is really fast, and it’s a pretty big group,” Fessenden said. “The energy from our team is going to be helpful to our performances.”
Horling is excited to watch everyone at her senior state meet, but she’ll be keeping an eye on Fessenden’s swims.
“I can’t wait to watch her, [because] I know she’s going to do great and have so much fun,” Horling said. “I can’t wait to watch everyone just break records and maybe even win [the meet.]”
States will be held at Oakland University on Friday, November 19, and Saturday, November 20. A livestream will be on the MHSAA channel starting at noon on both days.
