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Pearson wins butterfly, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish at CIML Conference meet

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Ankeny’s Bryer Pearson swims to a victory in the 100 butterfly during the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at the Waukee Natatorium. Pearson posted a time of 51.35 seconds. He also placed sixth in the 100 backstroke to help his team to a fourth-place finish overall. (Photo by Dan Holm)

With five of the state’s top eight teams in the field, Saturday’s CIML Conference boys’ swimming meet at the Waukee Natatorium provided a good tune-up for next month’s state meet.

Eighth-ranked Ankeny placed fourth among the seven squads with 297 points. Coach Dustin Rhoads’ team finished 86 points ahead of fifth-place Waukee after losing to the Warriors, 104-66, in a dual meet on Dec. 4.

Waukee Northwest racked up 407 points to defend its team title, finishing 55 points ahead of runner-up Valley. The Wolves moved into the No. 1 spot in the state power rankings following Saturday’s meet.

Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads watches his team in action during Saturday’s meet. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Ankeny’s lone victory was provided by senior Bryer Pearson, who won the 100 butterfly in 51.35. He edged Desmond Ortega of Southeast Polk by .06 seconds.

“I was definitely happy with my time,” said Pearson. “While it wasn’t quite a season best, it showed that I can compete with the best swimmers in the state. I feel like I’m on track to peak over the next couple of weeks, and I’m confident that the work I’ve put in this season will show as we get closer to state.”

Pearson was joined on the awards podium by two of his teammates. Sam Howard placed fifth in the event in 56.73, while Jack Walsh finished sixth in 57.60.

Ankeny’s Noah Kearney placed fifth in the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:05.01. He finished just ahead of Walsh, who took sixth in 2:05.19.

Ankeny’s Jack Walsh swims the breaststroke leg of the 200 individual medley during Saturday’s meet. He placed sixth in the event with a time of 2:05.19. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Wilson Pous-Ojeda placed fifth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.83. Cael Grubb finished fifth in the 500 freestyle in 5:16.89.

Pearson later added a sixth-place finish in the 100 backstroke. He was clocked in 57.24 seconds.

Kearney took seventh in the backstroke in 57.99. Ike Evans finished eighth in the same event in 58.98.

Miles Harbert placed eighth in both sprint events. He posted times of 23.41 in the 50 freestyle and 50.83 in the 100 freestyle.

Ankeny’s Noah Kearney swims the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay to open Saturday’s meet. He helped his team to a fifth-place finish in a time of 1:44.00. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Ankeny opened the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Kearney, Landon Wisehart, Pearson and Harbert was clocked in 1:44.00.

Ankeny placed sixth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:32.14 and fifth in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:24.65.

Rhoads’ team will now prepare for the district meet on Feb. 7 at Mason City.

Ankeny’s Wilson Pous-Ojeda competes in the 100 freestyle during Saturday’s meet while swimming alongside teammate Miles Harbert (top). Harbert went on to place eighth in a time of 50.83 seconds, while Pous-Ojeda finished ninth in 51.40. (Photo by Dan Holm)