Ames sends 9 people to boys state swimming meet

The Ames boys swimming crew is hoping to make coach Joe Fisher’s final state meet a memorable one.

The Little Cyclones certified a complete of 9 people for state in eight occasions following the boys district swimming meet on the Dan Flannery Pool in Ames on Feb. 7.

“I’m really excited to see what happens next week,” mentioned Fisher. “We’ve got another week of rest, and hopefully we can get some people to improve on their times.” 

Ames positioned third on the district meet behind Dowling Catholic and Boone. The Little Cyclones didn’t produce any particular person victories or elite qualifying instances, however they have been very constant in incomes state bids in six particular person occasions and all three relays.

“I thought we had some great swims today,” Fisher mentioned. “Our youngsters, first time ever in a district meet, swam great. We got some really good swims in our 200 and 500 events and our relays improved on the year. Overall, we had almost 100% lifetime bests.” 

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Individually, Jack Fowler certified in each the 200 and 500 freestyle races. He certified twenty first out of 32 qualifiers within the 200 freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 49.28 seconds and sixteenth within the 500 with a 4:55.76 exhibiting.

“It was a good meet for me,” mentioned Fowler. “I’m happy with today.”

Freshman Owen Van Der Linden is headed to state in the identical two occasions. He swam a 1:49.52 to qualify twenty second within the 200 and he certified twenty sixth within the 500 with a time of 5:01.85. 

Ames senior Jonathan Ryken additionally certified for state within the 200 freestyle. He has the Twenty ninth-best qualifying time at 1:59.02.

Brandon Terry is headed to state within the 200 particular person medley with the Seventeenth-fastest qualifying time at 2:00.95. Senior swimmer Davis Cowan earned a visit to state within the 100 breaststroke with the Fifteenth-best time at 1:00.37.

In relays, the Little Cyclone 400 freestyle crew of Terry, Van Der Linden, Fowler and Ryken certified twentieth in 3:23.01 and the 200 medley crew of Kane Hall, Cowan, Silas Erickson and freshman Clayton Marks is twenty first with a time of 1:42.61. The Ames 200 freestyle quartet of Terry, Van Der Linden, Marks and Fowler snuck into state with the Twenty third-best time at 1:31.90.

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Ames won’t be one of many prime contenders for the crew championship. The Little Cyclones are additionally not anticipated to complete close to the highest of any particular person or relay races.

Fisher mentioned he’s searching for his swimmers to push for finest instances in each race. He can also be excited to see how the remainder of the sector performs Feb. 13-14 on the University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.

“I’m looking forward to watching the meet in general,” Fisher mentioned. “I think there are going to be some great races.” 

But that doesn’t meet the Little Cyclones should not going to provide an important effort, particularly with it being Fisher’s remaining meet earlier than he retires.

“We want to do as well as we can next week,” mentioned Terry. “That’d be great for him.”  

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