Ankeny swimmer Josie Parton will be joining some of her former teammates on the Northern Iowa women’s swimming and diving squad.
Parton’s decision was announced on Sunday on social media.
“I love the coaching staff, and the girls on the team are all so welcoming,” said Parton. “I also loved the size of the campus and what it has to offer academically for me!”
Parton, a nine-time state placewinner, will become the latest in a long line of Ankeny swimmers and divers to head to Cedar Falls. Senior Scout Bergwall, sophomores Maddie Carleton and Erica Peters, and freshman Rachel Rolow are already on the Panthers’ squad.
“I looked mainly at schools in the states surrounding Iowa as I wanted to stay close to home,” Parton said. “Knowing some of the girls on the team is really great because I will have some people that I already feel very comfortable around, and I know will support me!”
Parton helped Ankeny to a ninth-place finish at the state meet in November. She placed seventh in the 100 freestyle in 53.29 seconds and 12th in the 100 backstroke in 59.96.
Parton swam the opening leg on the seventh-place 200 medley relay. She anchored the Hawkettes to a seventh-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay.
As a junior, Parton earned a spot on the awards podium by swimming on the sixth-place 200 freestyle relay. In 2021, she helped the Hawkettes to a fifth-place finish overall.