116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Boys’ swimming 2015-16: Teams, swimmers to watch
TEAMS
CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY
– The loss of senior Brennan Urbi (other non-athletic commitments) could keep the Cougars from cracking the state's top 10 (were 11th last year).
CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON
– State runner-up in each of the past two seasons. Returns five point-scorers from last year. No Iowa City West in its district means a 53rd-consecutive district championship is likely, while the combination of depth and the Iowa High School Athletic Association's move from 12 to 16 scoring places should help the pursuit of its first state championship since 2008.
IOWA CITY WEST
– Two-time defending state champion returns the majority of its core, led by eight-event state champions Aidan Keen and Mark McGlaughlin. West owns state records in 200-yard medley relay and 400 free relay, and is vying for a third in the 200 free relay.
LINN-MAR
– Promising collection of talent and depth (five returning state qualifiers) should move the Lions closer to the top 10 after placing 14th as a team last season.
SWIMMERS
KALEB DONELS, so., C.R. Washington
– Placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke and 18th in the 200-yard individual medley at last year's state meet.
BRADY GIBSON, sr., C.R. Kennedy
– Finished 19th in the 200-yard freestyle at the state meet.
PAUL HUMMELL, jr., C.R. Jefferson
– Placed 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke at state despite an appendectomy two days before the meet.
MATT JACKSON, sr., C.R. Washington
– Last year at state, placed 15th in the 200 IM and 19th in the 100-yard butterfly.
AIDAN KEEN, sr., Iowa City West
– Missouri signee. Two-time state champion in the 200 free and the 500 free. Anchored three of four state championships in 200-yard freestyle relay and 400 free relay over the past two seasons. 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in 200-meter freestyle.
STEFAN KITSOS, sr., C.R. Kennedy
– Finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke and 11th in the 200 IM at the state meet.
CAMERON KELLEY, jr., C.R. Washington
– Distance swimmer who has claimed bronze in the 500 free two years in a row. Also finished third in the 200 free last year, eighth as a freshman.
OLIVER MARTIN, jr., Iowa City West –
Coveted football recruit who placed in the top four in the 100 butterfly the past two years. Member of five West state champion relay squads, including state-record performances in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
MAX MCCHESNEY, sr., C.R. Jefferson
– School record holder in the 500 free; finished 19th at the state meet.
MARK MCGLAUGHLIN, sr., Iowa City West
– Two-time state champion sprinter in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 free. 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 50-meter freestyle, the 100-meter free and the 100-meter backstroke. 50-meter free member of the USA Swimming National Junior Team. Started three of four West state champion relay squads, including state-record performances in the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay. Will swim collegiately at North Carolina State.
ANDREW PARR, sr., Iowa City High
– Finished 19th in the 100 backstroke at state.
MATT PENG, so., Linn-Mar
– Closed promising freshman season with 12th-place finish in the 500 free and 18th in the 100 butterfly at the state meet.
NICK SAULNIER, sr., C.R. Washington
– Minnesota signee. State runner-up in 200 IM, third as a sophomore. Two top-five finishes in the 100 backstroke at the state meet.
WILL SCOTT, sr., Iowa City West
– Two top-10 state finishes in the 50 free and one in the 100 free. Helped West win five relay state championships, including state-record performances in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Will swim collegiately for Coach Marc Long at Iowa.
l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com
Cedar Rapids Washington's Nick Saulnier leaves the starting blocks for the 100 yard backstroke at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Washington swimmers cheer on their 200 yard freestyle relay team at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Brady Gibson takes a breath in the 200 yard freestyle during their high school dual swim meet at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids on Monday, December 22, 2014. Gibson placed second in the event with a time of 1:57.12. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Paul Hummell swims the second leg of the 200 yard medley relay at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Aidan Keen enters the water for the anchor leg of the 200 yard freestyle relay at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Stefan Kitsos swims the first leg of the 200 yard freestyle relay at a boy's district swimming meet at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion on Saturday, February 7, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Washington's Cameron Kelley competes in the 500 yard freestyle at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Oliver Martin enters the water for the third leg of the 200 yard freestyle relay at the 2015 Boy's State Swimming Championships at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA on Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Max McChesney competes in the 500 yard freestyle at the 2015 Mississippi Valley Conference Boy's Swimming Championships at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion on Saturday, January 24, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Mark McGlaughlin leaves the starting block for the first leg of the 200 yard medley relay at a boy's district swimming meet at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion on Saturday, February 7, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Linn-Mar's Matt Peng competes in the 100 yard butterfly at a boy's district swimming meet at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion on Saturday, February 7, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Iowa City West's Will Scott competes in the 100 yard freestyle at the 2015 Mississippi Valley Conference Boy's Swimming Championships at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion on Saturday, January 24, 2015. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
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