‘This was our best meet’: Ankeny tankers make progress in 125-61 loss to Dowling

Ankeny freshman Alexis Hergenreter talks with coach Dustin Rhoads during Tuesday’s dual meet against visiting Dowling Catholic at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Maroons posted a 125-61 victory. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The final score of Tuesday’s dual meet at Trail Point Aquatics Center was deceiving.

Even though the Dowling Catholic girls’ swimming team posted a 125-61 victory over host Ankeny, coach Dustin Rhoads was happy with his team’s performance.

“This was our best meet as a whole so far,” said Rhoads. “I am pleased with how we raced, and the times we put up were pretty good for the most part.”

The Maroons won nine of the 12 events, including all three relays. They swept the top three places in the diving competition.

Ankeny’s Gracie Lindaman (second from left) dives into the pool at the start of the 50 freestyle during Tuesday’s meet. She placed second in the event with a time of 25.86 seconds. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The loss dropped Ankeny’s records to 0-2 in the CIML Conference and 3-2 overall.

“Dowling is the No. 2 team in the state behind Waukee,” Rhoads said. “Similar to them, they have a lot of talent and depth, and probably the best diving group in the state. It was great to race another top team and get that experience. We were able to win some races and were right there in a lot of other ones.”

Anja Peck provided two of Ankeny’s three victories. She won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:13.40, then later took the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.89.

**Ankeny’s Josie Parton shakes hands with Dowling Catholic’s Anna Huss after winning the 100 freestyle in 54.67 seconds. Huss was the runner-up in 55.57. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Josie Parton added another win in the 100 freestyle, posting a time of 54.67. She later placed third in the 100 backstroke in 1:02.24.

Alexis Hergenreter was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle in 5:26.40. She earlier placed third in the 200 freestyle in 2:02.87.

Gracie Lindaman placed second in the 50 freestyle. She was clocked in 25.86.

**Ankeny’s Sophie Loeffler gets ready for the start of the 200 freestyle during Tuesday’s meet. She went on to place fifth in the event in 2:03.24. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Sophie Loeffler added a third-place finish in the 100 butterfly, turning in a time of 1:01.99. Miranda Gagne finished fourth in the diving with 196.35 points.

Ankeny opened the meet with a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Parton, Peck, Hergenreter and Lindaman posted a time of 1:53.63.

Ankeny’s Anja Peck swims the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay during Tuesday’s meet. She helped her team to a second-place finish in the event. Peck later won the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Lindaman, Hergenreter and Parton also helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish in the 400 freestyle relay. They teamed up with Loeffler to post a time of 3:46.40.

Loeffler also combined with Madi Trosper, Paige Spoelstra and Kyra Zinn for a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay. That unit was clocked in 1:45.52.

“We just need to keep getting better each day,” Rhoads said. “I can see the little improvements. Swimming is tough–it’s not really a sport of instant gratification. It is a grind and a process, and we’ve just got to keep going. It doesn’t get any easier with multiple top-10 teams at the Iowa City High Invitational (on Saturday), and then next week we’re at Valley and at Cedar Falls–and both those teams are also top 10 in the state.

“I am excited where this team is at right now and where we are going. I am proud of them for their effort tonight and know that we will keep improving!” he added.