Cedar Rapids Washington ready for swimming’s postseason run

CEDAR RAPIDS — Megan Lewis always has a plan at the start of each season.

The veteran Cedar Rapids Washington girls' swimming coach always wants to have her team functioning as 'One Unit' by the time the championship portion of the season rolls around.

'It is something we have always done,' Lewis said. 'We look to fit pieces into the right places for the big meets at the end of the season. We're not quite finished yet, but we have most things figured out.'

The Warriors have blended a combination of top-end talent and superior depth to cement themselves as the top dual-meet team in the Metro this season. They have impressive wins over Kennedy (111-75), Linn-Mar (114-72) and Jefferson (124-61) over the past three weeks.

Washington has 58 swimmers on its roster, the most in Lewis' 10 seasons leading the Warriors.

Seniors Lauren Havertape, Jenny Hughes and Caitlin Sievers all competed at state last year and have been strong this fall. Juniors Jill Hughes and Ayla Taylor also have been solid. Havertape is shooting to make state for a fourth straight year. Taylor has the fifth-best 11-dive score in the state at 435.75.

'We always know what we are going to get from Havertape and the Hughes',' Lewis said. 'They've always been strong competitors. It's been a nice mix of them with a lot of new freshman talent.'

Elise and Lila Novak, along with Sydney Jones, are the future of Warrior swimming. The Novaks have better times than Havertape in the 100-yard butterfly, an event Havertape has finished in the top 10 at state twice in her career. Jones has been the Warriors' best in the 100 back this season.

'We have nice balance,' Lewis said. 'The season has gone well so far but we will see how the end shapes up.'

The four-week run to the end of the season begins Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet, set for a noon start at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center. Two weeks later, all the MVC teams with the exception of Iowa City High and Iowa City West return to Linn-Mar for the regional meet with the state meet the following Saturday at the Marshalltown YMCA.

Lewis sees Cedar Falls and Iowa City West battling it out for the MVC title on Saturday. The teams are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the latest power rankings. Dubuque Wahlert is eighth and the Warriors are 10th.

'They both look really solid,' Lewis said of the MVC favorites. 'After that, you have to look at Wahlert. Linn-Mar will be tough swimming in their home pool.'

As for her Warriors, Lewis said they will maintain their training schedule through the meet. The goal for Washington is peak for the regional and state meets.

'It's been more individual up to this point,' Lewis said of the team's development. 'Now is the time for it all to come together.'

In other words, time for 'One Unit' to emerge.