Ames women swimming and diving group is wanting ahead to a enjoyable season

The Ames women swimming and diving group desires to make the 2025 season a memorable one.

It is the ultimate season for Little Cyclones coach Joe Fisher, who was a longtime assistant underneath legendary coach Dan Flannery earlier than taking up this system when Flannery handed away in 2020.

Ames positioned fifth on the 2024 IGHSAU women state swimming and diving meet. The Little Cyclones return 10 people who competed in that meet.

Those people helped the Little Cyclones earn factors in seven occasions.

Seniors Alex Powers, Lily Van Der Linden, Jaylyn Light and Lucy York, juniors Miah Mogard and Mady Hermsen and sophomores Ellie McCorkle, Molly Engelman and Aubrie Hanson all competed at state final 12 months. York and Engelman competed within the diving competitors, and the opposite women have been all in swimming occasions.

More: What we realized from Ames putting fifth at Iowa highschool women state swimming and diving meet

Junior Megan MacLeod is one other dependable veteran on the group with the potential to qualify for state this season.

“They got some great experiences at the state meet last year,” mentioned Fisher. “We’ve got swimmers as usual that can swim anything. We’re just working to get them back in shape after the break after the postseason this summer and be off and running.” 

McCorkle is the highest returning swimmer for Ames.

She positioned fourth within the 200-yard freestyle race and seventh within the 100 freestyle at state as a freshman. She additionally helped the Little Cyclones take third within the 200 medley relay fourth within the 200 freestyle relay.

“That was a very different situation that I had ever been in for any other meet — it was kind of overwhelming,” mentioned McCorkle. “Now that I’ve done it once and I know how it’s going to go, I feel like it’ll be that much better than the year before.”

McCorkle has an amazing probability to qualify for state in 4 occasions as soon as once more this fall. The 200 freestyle is her prime occasion, however McCorkle mentioned she is keen to swim no matter occasion the group wants her in to earn probably the most factors.

More: Meet Ellie McCorkle, the standout freshman for the Ames women swimming and diving group

Powers was a part of Ames’ third-place 200 medley relay group and she or he earned factors within the breaststroke by putting tenth. Thompson helped the 400 freestyle relay group place eighth and she or he was 14th within the backstroke, and Van Der Linden was ninth within the 500 freestyle and fifteenth within the 200.

MacLeod will swim in each the 200 and 500 freestyle occasions.

Fisher is wanting ahead to seeing what his returning state individuals can do and seeing different swimmers step up through the season to attempt to attain state.

“It’s going to take everybody stepping up and filling spots, having fun and swimming fast,” Fisher mentioned. “I’m excited to see what they do this year.” 

There shall be a distinction on the 2025 state meet. It was moved from Marshalltown to the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.

“Thank you to the IGHSAU for putting the swimmers first here in the state of Iowa,” Fisher mentioned. “It’s been so unfortunate that these wonderful athletes that put so much work into what they do year round, to have to swim in Marshalltown for all those years when we have such incredible facilities like Iowa City. I’m so excited to have it at Iowa City. I think you’ll see records fall like crazy.” 

More: IGHSAU announces changes to Iowa girls state swim meet, joint soccer changes with IHSAA

The prime groups heading into the season are the standard suspects of defending champion Dowling Catholic, Waukee, Waukee Northwest, Valley, Sioux City West and Cedar Falls. Ames figures to stay within the combine as nicely.

Fisher mentioned he is able to take advantage of his ultimate season teaching the Little Cyclones.

“All things in life transition,” Fisher mentioned. “It’s time for somebody else to take the reins. My focus is on the kids, having fun and helping them do the best they can and leave on a high note.” 

His swimmers need nothing greater than to make his want a actuality.

“We will all miss him a lot,” McCorkle mentioned. “The goal is to swim really fast and make him proud of us.” 

Ames opens the season at Mason City on Sept. 2. The Little Cyclones host their first house meet on the Dan Flannery Pool in Ames on Sept. 9.

Joe Randleman covers highschool sports activities for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman