Cougars convincing in Top-10 pool dual

CEDAR RAPIDS - Billed as perhaps the most-anticipated Metro girls' swimming matchup, Cedar Rapids Kennedy proved to be ahead of the pack.

The sixth-ranked Cougars (3-0, 3-0 MVC) swept all 12 events, including one tie, and overwhelmed No. 10 Cedar Rapids Washington, 133-53, Tuesday at Kennedy.

'It's a meet that helps them prepare for the end of the year,” Kennedy Coach John Ross said. 'The great competition that Washington brings, brings the best out in our kids.”

Three Cougars won a pair of individual events. Freshman Kassidy Lovig continued the impressive start to her varsity career with two victorious season-best times in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.88) and the 500 free (5:25.11). Her 500 time is eighth-best in the state this season.

Junior Jessica Williams also posted season-best times with wins in the 100-yard butterfly (1:02.13) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.33).

Williams also assisted on a pair of relay victories.

'Talented kids,” Ross said. 'They really are.”

Kennedy sophomore Mackinzee Macho also won twice as an individual, both in thrilling fashion.

In the 200-yard individual medley, Macho held off a late charge from Washington sophomore Emily Nelson and touched the wall in 2:19.03, a mere 47 hundredths of a second faster than Nelson.

'It went pretty well,” Macho said. 'The team atmosphere was really vibrant, I guess you could say. Everyone was cheering for everyone else. The atmosphere was just crazy and it went well.”

Macho earned her second win with a tie in the 100-yard breaststroke, an event she hopes to compete in at the state meet. Her season-best time of 1:11.22 equaled sophomore Caitlin Sievers of Washington (1-2, 1-2 MVC).

'I could see her out of the corner of my eye,” Macho said. 'I was just like, ‘I've got to go harder.' It was pretty crazy.”

The grandstand inside the Kennedy pool was filled to capacity in a show of support for the family of Kennedy freshman Ashley Bisson, who was diagnosed in April with stage IV-B Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The Cougar swim team sold bracelets and accepted free-will donations during the meet, which was titled, 'splash4ash.” A gofundme.com account has been established under the hashtag, '#AshleySTRONG,” to assist with medical expenses.

Kennedy travels to Dubuque Wahlert Sept. 15, while Washington hosts Linn-Mar the same day.

AT C.R. KENNEDY

C.R. Kennedy 133, C.R. Washington 53

200 medley relay - C.R. Kennedy (Jessica Williams, Raquel Green, Taylor Golden, Kirsten Siebenga), 1:53.57; 200 free - Kassidy Lovig (CRK), 2:00.88; 200 IM - MacKinzee Macho (CRK), 2:19.03; 50 free - Kirsten Siebenga (CRK), 25.67; 100 fly - Jessica Williams (CRK), 1:02.13; 100 free - Maddie Bagby (CRK), 55.30; 500 free - Lovig (CRK), 5:25.11; 200 free relay - C.R. Kennedy (Darby Manternach, Lydia Yang, Bagby, Siebenga), 1:41.93; 100 backstroke - Jessica Williams (CRK), 1:01.33; 100 breaststroke - Macho (CRK), 1:11.22; Caitlin Sievers (CRW), 1:11.22; 400 free relay - C.R. Kennedy (Golden, Bagby, Lovig, Williams), 3:49.74; Diving -

Jayden Lovell (CRK), 232.35

OTHER METRO/IOWA CITY GIRLS' SWIMMING RESULTS

C.R. Jefferson 107, Waterloo Swim Team 62

C.R. Jefferson 101, Vinton-Shellsburg/Union 69

Iowa City West 116, Iowa City High 69

AT WATERLOO

C.R. Jefferson 107, Waterloo Swim Team 62

C.R. Jefferson 101, Vinton-Shellsburg/Union 69

200 medley relay - 1. C.R Jefferson (Jaylee Chung, Hailee Fillenworth, Josie Thompson, Megan Kitzmiller), 2:05.40; 200 free - 1. Thompson (CRJ), 2:14.08; 200 IM - 1. Arabella Shepard (VSU), 2:19.89; 50 free - 1. Chung (CRJ), 26.01; 100 butterfly - 1. Thompson (CRJ), 1:04.89; 100 free - 1. Chung (CRJ), 57.71; 500 free - 1. Kenddra Woodward (WST), 5:54.65; 200 free relay - 1. Vinton-Shellsburg/Union (Lauren Krupa, Kaitlyn Goodell, Alli McLaren, Katie Freeland), 1:55.78; 100 back - 1. Shepard (VSU), 1:00.05; 100 breaststroke - 1. Freeland (VSU), 1:19.44; 400 free relay - 1. C.R. Jefferson (Chung, Thompson, Kitzmiller, Mika McChesney), 4:02.93; Diving -

1. Anna Penning (CRJ), 164.60

At Mercer Park Pool

Iowa City West 116, Iowa City High 69

200 medley relay - Iowa City West (Erica Roth, Alleyna Thomas, Erica Hsu, Elaina Martz), 1:57.73; 200 free - Alison Hsu (ICW), 2:04.48; 200 IM - Erica Hsu (ICW), 2:12.27; 50 free - Martz (ICW), 26.13; 100 fly - Martz (ICW), 1:04.78; 100 free - Alison Hsu (ICW), 57.33; 500 free - Thomas (ICW), 5:33.86; 200 free relay - Iowa City West (Erica Hsu, Alison Hsu, Jasmine Gu, Martz), 1:45.65; 100 backstroke - Ariel Roghair (ICW), 1:06.70; 100 breaststroke - Laura Lorenger (ICH), 1:13.08; 400 free relay - Iowa City West (Erica Hsu, Alison Hsu, Roghair, Thomas), 3:53.80; Diving -

Andrea Adam (ICH), 191.95

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com