Emerald Ridge Swimmer Has Big Plans for Second State Appearance

Alana Pries’ list of goals is short and to the point: Make it to state; make it to the finals; and win state.

The first two items are exactly what Pries did last year as a freshman at Emerald Ridge High School. Now a year older–and faster–she hopes to improve upon her
finishes of fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle and third place in the 100 free.

“I want to place higher than last year,” she said. “Preferably first place. That’s the goal.”

The Jaguars’ second-year coach, Susie Miller, said she can see that happening.

“She’s a competitive one,” she said, adding that Pries is good at setting goals for herself.

Pries is also known for her ability to perform under pressure. At the state meet, she handled herself like a pro, Miller said. After all, not many freshmen finish in the top five in two events.

“I knew she’d succeed,” she said. “It was just a matter of putting all of the pieces together at the state meet. I knew she’d be in the top eight, but at big meets like that, you never know how the chips will fall.”

Competition is nothing new to Pries, who has been swimming since she was 7. In addition to Emerald Ridge, she also swims for the King Aquatic Club.

“It’s the only thing I have really done, and something I like to stick with,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I enjoy it most of the time.”

Miller said her pupil is always striving to improve her performance.

“She definitely puts pressure on herself,” she said. “She’ll come to me with goals or ideas, and I say, ‘OK, what can we do to get you there?’”

Pries said she enjoyed her first experience at state, especially the setup, which included music playing as the swimmers walked in for each event in the finals.

“It was a little intimidating,” she admitted, “but it was a good experience.”

Now, she’s focusing on getting back to Federal Way come November. She has already qualified for state in the 50 free, and expects to also swim the 100 and
possibly the 200 free.

Pries will swim distance events if asked, but jokingly added that she would prefer not to. And the 100 free is by far her favorite.

“I do well at sprints, but I think in the 50, I can’t get up enough momentum to get to my full potential,” she said. “In the 100, I have enough time to do that.”

Emerald Ridge’s swim team is laden with upperclassmen, but Pries definitely gets noticed for her skill.

“People talk to me about it, like, ‘Wow, you went as a freshman,’” she said.

Miller added: “They definitely look to her ability.”

Emerald Ridge is in the process of rebuilding its swimming program, and Miller said that Pries’ state appearance has gotten the school some welcome attention.

Prior to 2011, the Jaguars had not appeared at state in several years.

“Last year, people didn’t have her on the radar, and this year, they’re like, oh, OK, Emerald Ridge has Alana,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to put Emerald Ridge back on the map with her and the relays.”

Pries isn’t sure what she wants to study in college yet–she enjoys her Japanese class at Emerald Ridge–but knows that she wants to swim in college.

In the more immediate future, though, she has some business to take care of.

“I’m looking forward to state,” she said, “and placing better than I did last year.”