It appears that this year’s girls’ state swimming meet is shaping up to be a three-team race.
On paper, anyway.
Based on the seeds going into the state meet–which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Marshalltown–it looks like Ames, Iowa City West and Waukee will fight for the crown. Ankeny could battle CIML rival Dowling Catholic for fourth place.
Iowa City West, which is third in the power rankings and was last year’s state runner-up, is projected to score 294 points based on performances at the six regional meets. The Women of Troy are the top qualifier in four events, including the 400 freestyle relay.
Waukee, the top qualifier in two events, is projected to score 289 points. The Warriors lead the power rankings with 4,411 points–97 more than Ames.
The defending champion Little Cyclones are seeking their 10th state title in 12 years. They are the top qualifier in four events, including the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, and are projected to score 282 points.
No. 5 Ankeny is projected to place fourth with 177 points. The Hawkettes are seeded second in the medley relay, third in the 400 freestyle relay and seventh in the 200 freestyle relay.
No. 4 Dowling is projected to score 166 points. The Maroons won a state title in 2019 before placing third last year.
Ankeny is seeking its seventh consecutive top-seven finish. The Hawkettes placed third in 2019, their highest finish ever under coach Michelle Stout, before finishing seventh last year.
Ankeny boasts a state title contender in diver Erica Peters, who is seeded second in that event behind Samantha Klein of Iowa City West. The diving competition will be held on Friday at 11 a.m.
The swimming preliminaries are slated for Friday at 5 p.m. The finals begin Saturday at noon.
Ankeny’s Alexis Henning is seeded fifth in both the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Other high seeds for the Hawkettes are Sophie Loeffler (seventh in the 200 freestyle and 10th in the 500 freestyle), Maddie Carleton (11th in the 200 freestyle and eighth in the 500 freestyle), and Anja Peck (11th in the 100 breaststroke).