Fairview's Abbie Houck enjoying final swim season

If Abbie Houck's skill set transferred to, say, that of a punter rather than a swimmer, she'd probably average about 50 yards per punt. If basketball was her forte', she'd undoubtedly be a three-point shooter.

Distance, you see, is her thing.

The Fairview (Boulder) senior has been one of the state's top distance freestylers over the past several seasons, and even a Knights career that has contained a few unforeseen twists and turns hasn't diminished that notion.

Unfailingly modest, it's almost as if the University of Louisville-bound Houck doesn't even realize she is one of the state's biggest names and one of the top athletes ever in a program that has cranked out more than its share of Division I athletes.

"I don't really think about it that way," Houck said. "I just go out there and race, more or less."

Houck made headlines last season when she decided to participate in USA Swimming's Missouri Grand Prix on state weekend. It offered a chance to ramp up her training for the forthcoming U.S. Olympic Trials during the summer, but meant she wouldn't have the opportunity to defend her 2011 title in the 500 freestyle at the Class 5A state meet.

She had the support of her teammates and coaches, but it didn't make the decision any less heart-wrenching. The internal conflict was evident at the time of her decision, when she said: "I wish I could go to state and be with my team. I love them all, and I want to be there to support them and swim with them. It's a bummer. I really wish it was on a different weekend."

The Grand Prix, she said, fit more of her long-term goals. It enabled her to swim the 400 freestyle at the Olympic Trials with much more national experience.

But no such turmoil will ensue this season. This February is expected to contain a much clearer picture than last, and state appears to be in the offing.

"Yes it is," Houck said. "With it being the last one, you definitely have to go out there and give it your all. It's been fun and it's going to be sad when it's all over."

Houck already has collected four individual medals at state. As a freshman in 2010, she was second in the 500 freestyle (behind Cherry Creek stalwart Bonnie Brandon) and fourth in the 200 freestyle. As a sophomore, Houck complemented her title in the 500 with a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle.

"There's no shortcut to being a great distance swimmer," Fairview coach Bob Smartt said. "There's no magic potion. It's all about many, many hours of hard work. And over the years, Abbie has been willing to pay the price in terms of 50 weeks a year of really, really hard training."

Houck swims year-round with the Jeffco Hurricanes (formerly North Jeffco Swim Team) and regularly swims with and against upper-echelon competition. She relishes her high school opportunities just as much, however, and her teammates enjoy her presence.

"She's a lot of fun and the girls like having her around," Smartt said. "She's very nice, very deferential."

It's not difficult to see where Houck falls in line in the school's storied program. Smartt said that the Knights have had two ultra-prominent distance freestyle swimmers: Sarah Fischer and Houck.

Fischer, who went on to a distinguished career at Arizona State, won six state titles before graduating Fairview in 2004. She won each the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

How close is it in determining who is the best? The school record book tells the story.

Fischer holds the school record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.22. Houck trails closely at 1:50.62. Fischer also holds the record for the 500 freestyle at 4:54.70. Again, Houck is close behind at 4:57.59.

It would be unfair not to mention 2007 graduate Julie Giehl, who is third in both events and swam at Nebraska. That Houck falls somewhere between those two proves she's in elite company.

Houck noted Boulder's Amanda Richey and Ralston Valley's Maddie Myers as potential challengers this season.

"She's an amazing swimmer and I definitely have to look out for her," Houck said of Myers, her year-round teammate.

Houck's high school career also is notable in that she had two older sisters who each went to different high schools. Alex went to Monarch and Andi to Centaurus. Each played basketball and is now graduated.