West's blessing is a curse

IOWA CITY - Iowa City West's girls swim team is blessed with a curse.

The Women of Troy's promising group of swimmers provides potential for a successful season, but head coach Rob Miecznikowski has the tough task of identifying which swimmers are best and what events they compete in to form their best lineup.

“We're still trying to find where everybody's going to fit,” Miecznikowski said. “There are so many girls that are so good right now."

West has started this season with two dominant wins, and will attempt to improve on last year's top-10 state finish in 2010.

Miecznikowski liked the balance his team had last season, but this year's squad is even deeper. The relays are a prime example with in the relays, where the multiple swimmers are competing for one of the last remaining spots in the 400 free and 200 medley relays. 

“It is but it's a little stressful, too,” Miecznikowski said. “We literally have six girls that could make that 400 free relay.”

“I said it comes to one thing, time.”

Many of the swimmers returned as fast as they were to qualify for the 2010 state meet,  including Savannah Butler who reached her state qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke in the first meet this season.

“We're actually much stronger than last year,” Miecznikowski said. “The girls as a whole trained very hard this summer and came back in extremely good condition. We're already going times at the beginning of this year that were qualifying times at state last year.”

West has a strong core of performers to build around. Sophomore Lilian Zhu reached the state podium in two events, placing fourth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 back. Butler notched a 10th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. All but one member of the seventh-place 400 free relay returns, including Kathleen Bowman, who was hindered by a shoulder injury but was sixth in the 500 free with two more top-10 finishes as a sophomore. Maria Gannon, one of the leaders along with Bowman, and Sophie Shoultz return with state experience.

“We have a strong group back,” Miecznikowski said. “We have a couple of good freshmen that came in.”

Miecznikowski noted freshmen Tereysa Lehnertz, Sarah Ritchie and Madie Miller have made an impact early. Lehnertz made a big splash her first two meets, posting a 50 free time of 25.06 seconds in the opener, which would have qualified seventh for last year's state meet. She was also timed in 1:00.86 in the 100 fly, only a couple seconds behind the school's record of 58.84 set by Grace Murray in 2008.

“She can do anything,” Miecznikowski said. “She wants to break a few records this year and her goal is to go undefeated in duals.

“She is going to try every event.”

West has notched seven top-10 finishes since 2003, including the last two years. The Women of Troy were fourth and in 2005 and Miecznikowski has hopes of another jump to that level.

“We had a great season last year,” Miecznikowski said. “Last year we finished ninth at state. I'd like to break into the top five at state this year.

“Overall, I think our depth has increased."