‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers capture 3rd straight Little Hawk Invite title

Ankeny’s Sam Howard and Wilson Pous-Ojeda dive into the pool at the start of the 200 freestyle during the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City. Pous-Ojeda placed third in the event and Howard finished fifth to help the Hawks to the team title for the third year in a row. (Photo courtesy of Jim Howard)

If the Ankeny boys’ swimming team needed a shot of momentum heading into the holiday break, the Hawks certainly got one on Saturday.

Seventh-ranked Ankeny won four events and easily captured its third consecutive title in the Little Hawk Invitational at Iowa City. The Hawks racked up 442 points to finish 63 points ahead of No. 6 Iowa City West, which took second in the seven-team field.

“We had a great meet,” said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. “It’s always a fun meet and good to see some different teams from the eastern side of the state.”

Junior Bryer Pearson led the way for Ankeny. He won the 50 freestyle in 22.76, edging Oliver Mikulski of Iowa City West by .03 seconds.

Pearson then took the 100 butterfly by a much bigger margin, posting a time of 52.51. He finished 1.45 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonathan Miller of Ottumwa.

**Ankeny’s Bryer Pearson swims to a victory in the 50 freestyle during Saturday’s meet. He posted a time of 22.76 seconds. Pearson then won the 100 butterfly in 52.51. (Photo courtesy of Jim Howard)**

Pearson later teamed up with Brock Peterson, Finn Stukerjurgen and Noah Kearney to win the 400 freestyle relay. He swam the opening leg in 50.02 for the Hawks, who were clocked in 3:24.18.

“I thought the guys were locked in and focused right away, and really wanted to win the meet as a team!” Rhoads said. “This was our best meet overall as a team so far, so I was very happy for the guys and it was cool to see everyone step up and swim very well.”

Stukerjurgen provided the Hawks’ other victory in the 500 freestyle. He won the event in a time of 5:02.91.

Stukerjurgen also placed fourth in the 200 individual medley. He was clocked in 2:01.92.

**Ankeny’s Jake Smith swims the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay during Saturday’s meet. He helped the Hawks to a second-place finish in the event. (Photo courtesy of Jim Howard)**

Ankeny’s Jake Smith placed second behind Stukerjurgen in the 500 freestyle, turning in a time of 5:14.61. He later took fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.68.

Wilson Pous-Ojeda finished fourth in the 500 freestyle in 5:15.79. He earlier placed third in the 200 freestyle in 1:54.10.

Austin Troyer placed fourth in the 50 freestyle in 23.16 seconds. He then took third in the 100 freestyle in 51.89.

Miles Harbert added a fourth-place finish in the 100 freestyle. He was clocked in 53.58.

Peterson took fifth in the 200 IM in 2:02.50. He later placed fourth in the 100 backstroke in 55.66 seconds.

Sam Howard finished fifth in a pair of events. He posted times of 1:55.60 in the 200 freestyle and 56.82 in the butterfly.

**Ankeny’s Noah Kearney swims the butterfly leg of the 200 individual medley during Saturday’s meet. He placed sixth in the event with a time of 2:08.86. (Photo courtesy of Jim Howard)**

Kearney took sixth in two different events. He turned in times of 2:08.86 in the 200 IM and 57.47 in the backstroke.

Jack Walsh placed sixth in the 200 freestyle in 1:55.92. He then finished seventh in the butterfly in 57.88.

Also placing seventh for Ankeny were Ike Evans in the 50 freestyle (24.62) and Tate Brownsberger in the breaststroke (1:09.74). Charlie Morrissey took ninth in the backstroke in 1:01.14.

The Hawks opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Peterson, Smith, Pearson and Stukerjurgen posted a time of 1:41.21.

**Ankeny’s Austin Troyer dives into the pool at the start of the 200 freestyle relay during Saturday’s meet. He helped the Hawks to a fourth-place finish in the event. (Photo courtesy of Jim Howard)**

Ankeny placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay. The quartet of Troyer, Kearney, Evans and Howard was clocked in 1:34.67.

“I hope this gives us some confidence and momentum as we head into our tough Christmas break training and big conference duals with Johnston, Dowling Catholic and Southeast Polk in the first part of January!” Rhoads said.