The Ankeny girls’ swimming team got its first look at the new $35 million Waukee Natatorium on Thursday.
In a matchup of two top-10 squads, the seventh-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 108-78 decision to No. 2 Waukee Northwest in a CIML Conference dual meet.
“It was fun to swim in their beautiful swim facility, and we will get to again later this year,” said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads, whose team will return there for the conference meet in late October.
Northwest boasts several swimmers who contributed to Waukee’s three state championships from 2021-23. The Waukee program split into two teams this fall with the opening of the Waukee Natatorium, which will be the home for both squads.
The Wolves won all 12 events on Thursday.
“I thought our group raced hard and competed well, and I was proud of our efforts,” said Rhoads, whose team dropped to 1-1 in the league and 5-1 overall. “Northwest is very good. They spread out their top girls and were able to win all of the events.”
Ankeny was led by Gracie Lindaman and Allie Kearney, who each placed second in a pair of individual events. Lindaman also swam on two runner-up relays.
The closest race of the night came in the 100 freestyle, where Northwest’s Kate Trosper posted a winning time of 55.72 seconds. Lindaman was clocked in 56.12, and teammate Paige Spoelstra took third in that event in 58.53.
Lindaman and Spoelstra also placed second and third in the 200 freestyle. Lindaman posted a time of 2:04.33, and Spoelstra was clocked in 2:08.01.
Kearney turned in times of 2:24.87 in the 200 individual medley and 1:16.43 in the 100 breaststroke. Teammate Kylee Stone was third in the 200 IM in 2:32.22.
Charlie Villhauer was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle in 5:54.62. She earlier took third in the 50 freestyle in 26.46.
Madison Trosper added a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke. She posted a time of 1:04.87.
Hayden Ocheltree finished third in the 100 butterfly. She was clocked in 1:05.19.
Ankeny placed second in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:57.53. That team consisted of Trosper, Kyra Zinn, Leah Schafer and Villhauer.
Zinn later combined with Lindaman, Kearney and Spoelstra for a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay. The Hawkettes posted a time of 1:45.35.
Ankeny also finished second in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Villhauer, Spoelstra, Lindaman and Trosper was clocked in 3:50.57.
Miranda Gagne placed third in the diving event. She scored 183.50 points.
“We just have to stay focused on our goals for the end of the season and keep working hard,” Rhoads said. “This is just one meet. It’s a grind of a season. I hope we take the experience from this meet and learn from it and have it motivate us for Tuesday against Valley. We were close in a lot of races.
“Our schedule doesn’t get any easier, but I know this group will respond and always compete hard and do their best!” he added.