The Ankeny boys’ swimming team got two wins from Jake Smith and another one from Bryer Pearson during Tuesday’s CIML Conference dual meet at Dowling Catholic.
Unfortunately, the sixth-ranked Maroons won the other eight events and posted a 101-69 victory. They improved to 2-1 in the league and 14-4 overall, while No. 9 Ankeny’s records dropped to 1-3 and 10-8.
“It was another close conference meet where we came up short,” said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. “This is a very hard part of our season and I know the guys competed hard, but we have to be better to be successful. We were a little short-handed with some sickness, but that is part of being a winter sport. A lot of guys on our team stepped up, but we need everyone to swim well to be successful as a team.”
Smith captured the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:51.79. He later posted a time of 4:58.45 to win the 500 freestyle, edging Dowling’s Wesley Mooney by .25 seconds.
Mooney led by .31 seconds with 100 yards to go before Smith rallied.
Pearson, meanwhile, took the 100 butterfly in 52.09 seconds. He earlier placed second in the 50 freestyle in 22.88.
“It was great that Jake and Bryer won events for us, but we have to find ways to win relays and get third in relays or even that fifth-place spot in the individual events,” Rhoads said. “All of those things matter in close duals.”
Ankeny’s Wilson Pous-Ojeda was the runner-up in the 200 freestyle behind Smith. He was clocked in 1:53.30.
Teammates Jack Walsh and Noah Kearney also earned second-place finishes. Walsh posted a time of 2:06.63 in the 200 individual medley, while Kearney was clocked in 58.24 in the 100 backstroke.
The Hawks opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Kearney, Landon Wisehart, Pearson and Ike Evans posted a time of 1:43.11.
Kearney and Evans later teamed up with Smith and Miles Harbert for a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay. Ankeny was clocked in 1:33.28.
The Hawks also placed second in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Smith, Pearson, Harbert and Wisehart posted a time of 3:22.02.
Ankeny will travel to Southeast Polk on Thursday for another conference dual meet against the No. 11 Rams, who are 0-4 in the league and 16-8 overall.
“This was not going to be the highlight of our season,” Rhoads said. “We trained through this dual coming off of hard winter break training, but I am glad we have another opportunity against a good Southeast Polk team on Thursday! They will be ready to go as I am sure it is their Senior Night so it will take our best effort. I look forward to how my guys will respond to the challenge.”