Jefferson Girls Swimming

Drake wins 50; J-Hawks 5th at regional swim

By many, few, or just one point a win is a win and the Lions of Linn-Mar will take it.

Linn-Mar won the regional swimming and diving championship Saturday afternoon at Kennedy by just one point. The ninth-ranked Lions edged the No. 8 host Cougars 457-456 to claim the title.

“I honestly had (Kennedy) winning, it was a good surprise (to win),” Linn Mar Coach Chad Derlein said. “Both teams swam lightning fast.”

Linn-Mar and Kennedy were joined by 28th-ranked Jefferson in representing the Metro in the regional meet. The J-Hawks finished fifth, behind Muscatine and Bettendorf.

All three Metro schools had swimmers win events and guarantee themselves a spot in the state meet at Marshalltown next Saturday. Winners in each event and the next 18 best times from across the state qualify for the state meet. Cut-off times will be announced later tonight.

Kennedy and Linn-Mar both had a phenomenal day in the pool. Kennedy set a school record in the 200 yard freestyle relay and would have set two pool records if not for the Lions beating them to it. Linn-Mar broke pool records in both the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay.

“I was really pleased with the girls’ efforts, there was some great competition here,” Kennedy Coach John Ross said. “It was not quite a lifetime swim, but it was close.”

Linn-Mar started the day with a 16-point lead over Kennedy, thanks to a 1-2-3 finish by Sam Wagner, Adelia Clark and Alyssa Deuso in Thursday night's diving competition.

The Lions built on their lead immediately, recording a pool record and state qualifying swim in Saturday's first event, the 200 medley relay, as Lizzie Adams outswam the Cougars' Hannah Botkin on the anchor leg. Senior Nicole Larsen, junior Lauren Dalecky and senior Emilie Berg swam the first three legs for Linn-Mar.

“It feels great to work hard all season and have it pay off,” Dalecky said. “It is indescribable.”

The Lions got another relay win and pool record later in the day when Berg, Adams, Dalecky, and senior Alex Dunn edged Kennedy in the 200 freestyle relay.

“We have been wanting to do this (set the record),” Dunn said. “I didn’t think I would ever be up there taking down a record, it’s incredible.”

Berg added an individual win in the 100 breaststroke to her two relay wins.

Kennedy got a relay win of its own in the 400 free relay, the last event of the day. The Cougars easily pulled away from the Lions to capture a spot at state. Senior Jordan Muir, freshman Sam Jacobsen, senior Lexi Scharmer, and junior Jessica Schmeiser powered the Cougars in the event.

Unfortunately for Kennedy, the 40 points the Cougars earned for winning the free relay left them one point shy of Linn-Mar. The Lions held a seven-point lead heading into the event after Berg, Dalecky and Lauren Reynolds finished 1-3-4 in the breaststroke.

Kennedy's Scharmer and Schmeiser each got an individual win on the day, too. Scharmer won the 100 butterfly in a close race, while Schmeiser won the 200 freestyle.

“It’s a relief,” Scharmer said. “We have a party tonight to learn cut off times, it’s kind of stressful.”

“(It’s) really exciting because I haven’t gone (to state) in an individual event,” Schmeiser said. “My teammates really push me to do my best.”

Jefferson's day wasn't quite as the two other Metro schools, but the J-Hawks did get a huge win of their own. Jefferson senior Kailey Drake won a Metro heavy last heat to take first in the 50 freestyle and claim a spot at state.

“Now everyone knows who I am,” said Drake, who said she was asked who she was by a Linn-Mar swimmer before the race. “I was excited because my goal was to beat all Linn-Mar swimmers and stand on the first place podium.”

Jefferson Coach Ryan York had plenty of confidence in Drake. He told her, “if you are with them at the 25 wall you will win. See you at the podium,” a couple heats before Drake swam.

Linn-Mar hopes to carry its momentum over into next week's state meet.

“We hope to get top 10,” Derlein said. “It has been our goal all season.”

Linn-Mar's coaching staff was given the regional coaching staff of the year award.

“It (the award) is more about what the girls did, they made the coaches look good,” Derlein said about the honor. “It is basically an award for them."

REGIONAL MEET
At Kennedy

Teams -- 1. Linn-Mar 457, 2. Kennedy 456, 3. Muscatine 284, 4. Bettendorf 257, 5. Jefferson 212, 6. Keokuk 143, 7. Fairfield 134, 8. Williamsburg 123, 9. Burlington 70.

200 Medley Relay
1. Linn-Mar (Nicole Larsen, Lauren Dalecky, Emilie Berg, Lizzie Adams) 1:50.89, 2. Kennedy (Sam Jacobsen, Amanda Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer, Hannah Botkin) 1:51.67, 3. Bettendorf 1:54.35, 4. Jefferson (Erin Kibby, Emily Ritchie, Kylie Steimer, Kailey Drake) 1:56.21, 5. Fairfield 1:58.61, 6. Keokuk 1:59.07

200 Freestyle
1. Jessica Schmeiser (CRK) 1:57.50, 2. Sarah Pfeiffer (Musc) 2:01.99, 3. Jordan Muir (CRK) 2:03.71, 4. Larkyn Aldrich (CRK) 2:04.59, 5. Jessica Arebaugh (LM) 2:07.25, 6. Emily Schoer (Musc) 2:07.98

200 IM
1. Rebecca Alves (Bett) 2:11.67, 2. Regan Kilburn (Musc) 2:19.13, 3. Mallory Neubauer (Willburg) 2:21.88, 4. Lauren Reynolds (LM) 2:22.26, 5. Samantha Fitzgerald (LM) 2:24.21, 6. Lauren Dalecky (LM) 2:24.56

50 Free
1. Kailey Drake (CRJ) 24.81, 2. Lizzie Adams (LM) 24.82, 3. Alex Dunn (LM) 24.96, 4. Emilie Berg (LM) 25.34, 5. Hallie Goss (Musc) 25.42, 6. Hannah Botkin (CRK) 25.61

100 Butterfly
1. Lexi Scharmer (CRK) 59.53, 2. Rebecca Alves (Bett) 59.66, 3. Jordan Muir (CRK) 1:01.17, 4. Mallory Neubauer (Willburg) 1:02.89, 5. Kylie Steimer (CRJ) 1:03.57, 6. Jade Greiner (Fair) 1:03.71

100 Free
1. Rachael Schermer (Bett) 53.87, 2. Jessica Schmeiser (CRK) 54.46, 3. Alex Dunn (LM) 55.00, 4. Lexie Hawkins (Keokuk) 55.10, 5. Kailey Drake (CRJ) 55.21, 6. Hallie Goss (Musc) 55.56

500 Free
1. Sarah Pfeiffer (Musc) 5:24.65, 2. Sam Jacobsen (CRK) 5:28.59, 3. Larkyn Aldrich (CRK) 5:33.37, 4. Katie Ferguson (CRK) 5:41.64, 5. Emily Schoer (Musc) 5:47.53, 6. Jessica Arebaugh (LM) 5:54.50

200 Free Relay
1. Linn-Mar (Emilie Berg, Lizzie Adams, Lauren Dalecky, Alex Dunn) 1:39.29, 2. Kennedy (Hannah Botkin, Jordan Muir, Amanda Jacobsen, Jessica Schmeiser) 1:40.25, 3. Bettendorf 1:41.47, 4. Muscatine 1:43.15, 5. Jefferson (Erin Kibby, Emily Ritchie, Kylie Steimer, Kailey Drake) 1:44.60, 6. Fairfield 1:47.77

100 Backstroke
1. Lexie Hawkins (Keokuk) 59.47, 2. Lexi Scharmer (CRK) 1:00.93, 3. Sam Jacobsen (CRK) 1:01.05, 4. Regan Kilburn (Musc) 1:01.22, 5. Nicole Larsen (LM) 1:01.84, 6. Henna McCoy (CRK) 1:02.41

100 Breaststroke
1. Emilie Berg (LM) 1:07.04, 2. Rachael Schermer (Bett) 1:08.44, 3. Lauren Dalecky (LM) 1:09.91, 4. Lauren Reynolds (LM) 1:12.20, 5. Amanda Jacobsen (CRK) 1:13.29, 6. Hannah Crane (Bett) 1:14.05

400 Free Relay
1. Kennedy (Jordan Muir, Sam Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer, Jessica Schmeiser) 3:40.48, 2. Linn-Mar (Lizzie Adams, Jessica Arebaugh, Alexa Klimes, Alex Dunn) 3:45.07, 3. Muscatine 3:53.13, 4. Jefferson (Olivia Northrup, Emily Ritchie, Erin Kibby, Kylie Steimer) 3:56.36, 5. Fairfield 4:02.91, 6. Bettendorf 4:03.88

Jefferson girls 10th at MVC swim meet

Jackie Hughes dominated her junior varsity races for the Cedar Rapids Washington swim team last year as a freshman, but it's not what she really wanted to do.

Hughes wanted to swim for the varsity last year, but couldn't due to Cedar Rapids Community School rules. She lives in the Kennedy school district and open-enrolled at Washington, so she had to compete at the sub-varsity level for a year.

Now she's making up for lost time.

Hughes captured the 500-yard freestyle in 5:18.70 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet at the Jefferson High School pool Saturday afternoon.

That was the varsity title, not the JV title.

"It was fun, especially after not being able to swim it last year because I open-enrolled," she said. "It was fun to be able to race some girls who I know from club swimming. It was just a fun feeling."

Hughes and other top swimmers from the Metro area made their mark in the conference meet this year, winning four out of 12 events.

Linn-Mar won three events in the Super Meet. Emilie Berg captured the 100 breakstroke, Sam Wagner took the diving crown and the Lions prevailed in the 200 freestyle relay.

Cedar Falls won the team championship with 432.5 points. Iowa City West finished second with 371.5 markers.

Kennedy finished third in the standings with 290.5 points, collecting points in a variety of events. Linn-Mar was fourth (258), Washington eighth (143.5) and Jefferson 10th (87).

Hughes was a terror in junior varsity races a year ago. Her winning times in JV events were often better than the winning times in the same varsity races, but there's nothing she could do about that.

Hughes went to Franklin Middle School, which sends most of its students to Washington High School and some of its students to Kennedy. Her brother attends Washington and she wanted to become a Warrior as well.

Hughes had a price to pay, due to the rules, but now she's proven she's the top distance swimmer in the MVC and one of the top in Iowa, ranking fifth in the state in the 500.

Hughes likes competing in the 500-yard freestyle, which requires strength and endurance. "I feel like the 500 is an event that's for people who are tougher," she said.

Hughes also enjoys the 100 breaststroke and finished third in the event Saturday.

Berg swam the opening leg on the championship 200 freestyle relay for Linn-Mar and won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.18. Lizzie Adams, Lauren Dalecky and Alex Dunn joined Berg on the triumphant relay that finished in 1:41.98.

Berg ranks third in the state in the 100 breaststroke and Linn-Mar's 200 freestyle relay ranks fifth. She's hoping to compete for high finishes at the state meet in Marshalltown Nov. 4-5.

"It's my senior year," she said. "I really want to go out with a bang."

Berg plans to swim in college and hopes to make a decision by January. "I love swimming," she said. "I can't get enough."

Kennedy did not have any champions or runners-up Saturday, but the Cougars piled up points in eight events. Lexi Scharmer finished third in the 100 butterfly, third in the 100 backstroke, third in the 200 medley relay and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay to help spark the Cougars.

Jessica Schmeiser piled up points for Kennedy by placing third in the 200 freestyle, third in the 200 freestyle relay, fourth in the 400 freestyle relay and fifth in the 100 freestyle.

Sam Jacobsen and Jordan Muir also placed in four events for the Cougars.

Wagner won the diving title for Linn-Mar Thursday night at Jefferson. Dunn finished third in the 50 freestyle for the Lions.

MVC SUPER MEET
At Jefferson

Team Standings
1. Cedar Falls 432.5; 2. Iowa City West 371.5; 3. Kennedy 290.5; 4. Linn-Mar 258; 5. Dubuque Senior 172; 6. Waterloo West 157; 7. Hempstead 150, 8. Washington 143.5, 9. Wahlert 89; 10. Jefferson 87; 11. Iowa City High 72; 12. Waterloo East 22.

200 Medley Relay
1. Cedar Falls 1:51.46 (MVC record); 2. Iowa City West 1:54.29; 3. Kennedy 1:55.72 (Sam Jacobsen, Amanda Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer, Hannah Botkin); 4. Linn-Mar 1:56.10 (Nicole Larsen, Lauren Dalecky, Emilie Berg, Lizzie Adams); 5. Waterloo West 1:57.75; 6. Hempstead 1:57.87.

200 Freestyle
1. Kathleen Bowman, Iowa City West, 2:00.83; 2. Brittany Moffatt, Cedar Falls, 2:01.03; 3. Jessica Schmeiser, Kennedy, 2:02.76; 4. Maria Gannon, Iowa City West, 2:03.23; 5. Jordan Muir, Kennedy, 2:04.70; 6. Taylor Pherigo, Waterloo West, 2:06.52.

200 IM
1. Lilian Zhu, Iowa City West, 2:11.61; 2. Aftin Phyfe, Cedar Falls, 2:13.79; 3. Autumn Roepsch, Dub Senior, 2:16.59; 4. Catherine Sell, Cedar Falls, 2:19.35; 5. Sophie Shoultz, Iowa City West, 2:21.23; 6. Savannah Butler, Iowa City West, 2:21.54.

50 Freestyle
1. Molly Lembezeder, Dub Senior, 24.43 (MVC record); Tereysa Lehnertz, Iowa City West, 24.84; Alex Dunn, Linn-Mar, 25.59; 4. Shelby Cline, Waterloo West, 25.74; 5. Emilie Berg, Linn-Mar, 25.85; 6. Lizzie Adams, Linn-Mar, 26.03.

100 Butterfly
1. Tereysa Lehnertz, Iowa City West, 1:00.09; 2. Aftin Phyfe, Cedar Falls, 1:00.28; 3. Lexi Scharmer, Kennedy, 1:00.87; 4. Jordan Muir, Kennedy, 1:02.01; 5. Taylor Pherigo, Waterloo West, 1:02.84; 6. Kathleen Bowman, Iowa City West, 1:02.93.

100 Freestyle
1. Kelsey Abbas, Cedar Falls, 54.01; 2. Molly Lembezeder, Dub Senior, 54.16; 3. Lilian Zhu, Iowa City West, 54.21; 4. Autumn Roepsch, Dub Senior, 55.91; 5. Jessica Schmeiser, CR Kennedy, 56.51; 6. Alex Dunn, Linn-Mar, 56.92.

500 Freestyle
1. Jackie Hughes, Washington, 5:18.70; 2. Clare Slagel, Hempstead, 5:20.08; 3. Brittany Moffatt, Cedar Falls, 5:24.54; 4. Maria Gannon, Iowa City West, 5:24.59; 5. Jasmine Roghair, Iowa City West, 5:33.83; 6. Sam Jacobsen, Kennedy, 5:34.42.

200 Freestyle Relay
1. Linn-Mar 1:41.98 (Emilie Berg, Lizzie Adams, Lauren Dalecky, Alex Dunn); 2. Cedar Falls 1:42.64; 3. Kennedy (Hannah Botkin, Jordan Muir, Amanda Jacobsen, Jessica Schmeiser); 4. Dubuque Senior 1:44.99; 5. Iowa City West 1:47.18; 6. Jefferson 1:48.25 (Erin Kibby, Emily Ritchie, Kylie Steimer, Kailey Drake).

100 Backstroke
1. Kelsey Abbas, Cedar Falls, 58.65 (MVC record); 2. Clare Slagel, Hempstead, 59.31; 3. Lexi Scharmer, Kennedy, 1:04.08; Sam Jacobsen, Kennedy, 1:04.37; 5. Nicole Larsen, Linn-Mar, 1:04.99; 6. Sophie Shoultz, Iowa City West, 1:05.01.

100 Breaststroke
1. Emilie Berg, Linn-Mar, 1:08.18; 2. Savannah Butler, Iowa City West, 1:10.02; 3. (tie) Jackie Hughes, Washington, 1:10.84; Montana Clasby, Cedar Falls, 1:10.84; 5. Natalie Shimp, Cedar Falls, 1:12.54; 6. Payton Augustine, Waterloo West, 1:13.11.

400 Freestyle Relay
1. Iowa City West 3:43.00; 2. Cedar Falls 3:45.27; 3. Dubuque Senior 3:48.70; 4. Kennedy 3:48.96 (Jordan Muir, Sam Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer, Jessica Schmeiser); 5. Hempstead
3:53.58; 6. Linn-Mar 3:54.86 (Nicole Larsen, Alexa Klimes, Jessica Arebaugh, Alex Dunn).

Drake wins 4 events as J-Hawks sink City High

Kailey Drake won two individual events and swam on two victorious relays Tuesday night as Cedar Rapids Jefferson dunked Iowa City High, 114-71, in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet at Jefferson.

Drake captured the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. She swam the anchor legs on the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.

Erin Kibby emerged from the pool as a triple winner for the J-Hawks. She won the 100 backstroke and swam the opening leg on the triumphant 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Megan Kibby, Erin's twin sister, won the 500 freestyle. Kylie Steimer won the 100 butterfly and swam on two winning relay teams. Emily Ritchie and Michelle Wharton also helped Jefferson win two relays.

JEFFERSON 114, IOWA CITY HIGH 71

200 medley relay - 1. Jefferson (Erin Kibby, Emily Ritchie, Kylie Steimer, Michelle Wharton) 2:01.90; 2. City High 2:08.73; 3. Jefferson (Gabrielle Armstrong, Jourdan McChesney, Brittany Rains, Emily Howington) 2:08.73.

200 freestyle - 1. Ava Vargason (ICH) 2:13.14; 2. Brittany Rains (J) 2:16.85; 3. Erin Kibby (J) 2:19.31.

200 IM - 1. Claire Rowden (ICH) 2:32.03; 2. Kylie Steimer (J) 2:35.64; 3. Gabrielle Armstrong (J) 2:39.21.

50 freestyle - 1. Kailey Drake (J) 26.18; 2. Nicole Ehlers (ICH) 28.04; 3. Michelle Wharton (J) 28.25.

Diving - 1. Jindalae Suh (ICH) 192.85; 2. Mo Groe (J) 156.60; 3. Lucy Schneekloth (J) 152.00.

100 butterfly - 1. Kylie Steimer (J) 1:07.68; 2. Emma Baxter (ICH) 1:07.80; 3. Brittany Rains (J) 1:15.57.

100 freestyle - 1. Kailey Drake (J) 59.86; 2. Ava Vargason (ICH) 1:00.32; 3. Nicole Ehlers (ICH) 1:01.63.

500 freestyle - 1. Megan Kibby (J) 6:15.99; 2. Laura Hoff (ICH) 6:25.69; 3. Emily Howington (J) 6:28.69.

200 freestyle relay - 1. Jefferson (Erin Kibby, Emily Ritchie, Michelle Wharton, Kailey Drake) 1:49.06; 2. City High 1:49.06; 3. Jefferson (Emma Edelen, Megan Kibby, Olivia Northrup, Hailey Sullivan) 1:57.32.

100 backstroke - 1. Erin Kibby (J) 1:11.23; 2. Gabrielle Armstrong (J) 1:12.31; 3. Hailey Sullivan (J) 1:14.24.

100 breaststroke - 1. Elizabeth Brown (ICH) 1:16.18; 2. Emily Ritchie (J) 1:20.35; 3. Annie Hartley (ICH) 1:22.58.

400 freestyle relay - 1. Jefferson (Brittany Rains, Kylie Steimer, Emma Edelen, Kailey Drake) 4:03.94; 2. City High 4:04.49; 3. Jefferson (Olivia Northrup, Megan Kibby, Hailey Sullivan, Gabrille Armstrong) 4:17.69.

Drake 5th in 50 at Cedar Falls meet

CEDAR FALLS - Cedar Rapids Kennedy placed in the top-6 in six events Saturday and finished third at the 33rd Marcussen Invitational girls swimming meet in Cedar Falls.

Lexi Scharmer placed fourth in the 100 butterfly and finished sixth in the 100 backstroke for Kennedy. Jordan Muir placed fifth in the 100 fly. The Cougars finished third in the 200 medley relay, fifth in the 200 freestyle relay and sixth in the 400 freestyle relay.

Jackie Hughes of Cedar Rapids Washington finished second in the 500 freestyle and took fifth in the 200 freestyle. McKenzie Asplund placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke for the Warriors.

Kailey Drake took fifth in the 50 freestyle for Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Waukesha South won the team championship, nudging Cedar Falls for the top spot. Kennedy was third, Washington sixth and Jefferson 11th.

MARCUSSEN INVITATIONAL

Team Standings

1. Waukesha South 509, 2. Cedar Falls 484, 3. Kennedy 261, 4. Mason City 206, 5. Decorah 159, 6. Washington 155, 7. Dubuque Senior 144, 8. Hempstead 135, 9. Lewis Central 124, 10. Wahlert 73, 11. Jefferson 72.

200 medley relay - Cedar Falls 1:50.88; 3. Kennedy (Sam Jacobsen, Amanda Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer, Hannah Botkin) 1:56.48.

200 freestyle - Kayla Skenandore (Waukesha) 1:55.07; 5. Jackie Hughes (CRW) 2:01.20.

200 IM - Allison Orvis (DEC) 2:08.67.

50 freestyle - Abby Jagdfeld (Waukesha) 24.74; 5. Kailey Drake (CRJ) 26.13.

100 butterfly - Kayla Skenandore (Waukesha) 58.17; 4. Lexi Scharmer (CRK) 1:02.37; 5. Jordan Muir (CRK) 1:03.20.

100 freestyle - Abby Jagdfeld (Waukesha) 53.07.

500 freestyle - Kaersten Meitz (Waukesha) 5:01.18; 2. Jackie Hughes (CRW) 5:17.85.

200 freestyle relay - Waukesha 1:40.54; 5. Kennedy (Jordan Muir, Amanda Jacobsen, Leah Beman, Jessica Schmeiser) 1:45.01.

100 backstroke - Kelsey Abbas (CF) 58.56; 6. Lexi Scharmer (CRK) 1:04.48.

100 breaststroke - Montana Clasby (CF) 1:10.20; 6. McKenzie Asplund (CRW) 1:14.22.

400 freestyle relay - Waukesha 3:36.99; 6. Kennedy (Jessica Schmeiser, Sam Jacobsen, Hannah Botkin, Lexi Scharmer) 3:52.50.

Diving - Marea Holkesvik (DEC) 351.30.