Any win in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League is a good one.
Ankeny boys’ swimming coach Dustin Rhoads certainly didn’t take his team’s victory at Johnston on Thursday for granted.
“We had a good night at the pool,” Rhoads said after his squad posted a 112-58 triumph over the Dragons at Summit Middle School. “It was fun to see the guys compete hard and get a conference win! That is never easy in the CIML.”
Seventh-ranked Ankeny improved to 1-2 in the conference and 2-2 overall by winning nine of the 11 events. No. 15 Johnston got a victory in the 50 freestyle from Nikolay Silkin, who later anchored the Dragons to another win in the 400 freestyle relay on their Senior Night.
Otherwise, the Hawks pretty much dominated the meet. They swept the top three places in two events and the top two spots in three others.
“We were able to get some great, tough training in the last couple of weeks so I know a lot of the guys were still really sore and tired, and this meet had some odd timing right after the New Year,” Rhoads said. “But I was still very pleased with how we did. Our depth continues to improve as the guys gain more experience with more competition and meets.”
Ankeny’s Finn Stukerjurgen won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.96. He later captured the 100 backstroke in 57.13 seconds.
Teammate Brock Peterson also took two individual events. He won the 100 butterfly in 54.57 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.33.
Noah Kearney won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:09.98. Teammate Jack Walsh was the runner-up in that event, posting a time of 2:11.64.
Kearney later took second in the backstroke. He turned in a time of 59.26.
Bryer Pearson took the 100 freestyle in 50.69. He earlier placed second in the 50 freestyle in 23.00.
Ankeny also got a victory from Jake Smith in the 500 freestyle. He was clocked in 5:15.95.
Wilson Pous-Ojeda was the runner-up in that event, posting a time of 5:22.28. He earlier placed second in the 200 freestyle in 1:57.54.
Ankeny also got a runner-up finish from Austin Troyer in the 100 freestyle. He was clocked in 52.48.
Troyer teamed up with Kearney, Peterson and Pearson to win the 200 medley relay. The team posted a time of 1:43.15.
Peterson, Troyer and Pearson also swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay. They combined with Stukerjurgen to post a time of 1:33.45.
Ankeny later finished second in the 400 freestyle relay. The foursome of Kearney, Sam Howard, Stukerjurgen and Miles Harbert was clocked in 3:31.16.
Rhoads’ team will host a conference dual meet against No. 11 Dowling Catholic on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center.
“Next week is going to be a big challenge with three meets in five days against great competition,” Rhoads said. “We will focus on those, especially the two CIML meets, and add in some recovery and hopefully be able to swim well in our home pool. The season is winding down quickly so we are all trying to enjoy every day and the meets we have all together. It goes so fast.”
