Iowa high school girls’ swimming 2021: Gazette area swimmers, divers and teams to watch

Here are Gazette area girls’ swimming and diving teams and individuals to watch in the 2021 season.

Teams

Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Coach Chad Derlein welcomes back eight state qualifiers from a team that finished 10th at the state meet last year and went 7-1 in dual meets. Senior Audrey Repko is the top returner, coming off a sixth-place finish at state in the 500-yard freestyle. Seniors Raylee King and Anne Baumann, junior Lacey Neighbor, along with sophomores Ellie Hance, Taylor Matta and Maria Trotta give Kennedy a solid base of talent in all events. Freshman Lilly Adams is a versatile performer who should provide the Cougars with even more options. “This year’s team will be deep in talent,” Derlein said. “It will be fun to create different lineups for meets finding the right places for each of the girls.”

Iowa City West — Even with the loss of a strong senior class, which included 2021 Gazette Athlete of the Year and Stanford signee Aurora Roghair, Coach Byron Butler’s team should again be among the contenders for a state title after finishing second to Ames last season. Heading the list of returners is senior Scarlet Martin, who has won six state titles during her career. The future Florida Gator will be joined by fellow seniors Ella Hochstetler, Olivia Taeger and Samantha Klein, juniors Jade Roghair and Makala Hajek, and sophomores Kolby Reese, Carlee Wilkins and Karen Liu. Freshmen Ave Bilskemper and Abbie Chidister should also have an impact at the varsity level. “We graduated an extremely strong senior class,” Butler said. “We should again be pretty competitive.”

Linn-Mar — The Lions have a new head coach this season as Charlie Hugo moves up from an assistant role to replace Bobby Kelley. Linn-Mar finished eighth at state last season and returns several performers from that group. Junior Hayley Kimmel placed among the top seven in two individual events. Other returning state qualifiers include seniors Lily Haars, Corrin Williams and Maggie Schlamp, juniors Lilly Weber and Emily Brennom along with sophomore Lucy Haars. “(They) have put in a tremendous amount of work over the winter and summer to prepare for this season,” Hugo said. “We have a hard working group of 19 incoming freshmen which will add to the team’s depth this season. Overall we are excited about the season and looking forward to our first meet.”

Swimmers and divers

Natalie Freeman, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, jr. — Finished fourth at state diving with a score of 455.95.

Ella Hochstetler, Iowa City West, sr. — Finished eighth in the 100-yard butterfly (58.93) and was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay at state.

Hayley Kimmel, Linn-Mar, jr. — Finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.65) and seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:09.74) at state.

Scarlet Martin, Iowa City West, sr. — Won the 100 fly (53.01), won the 100 backstroke (54.14) and was part of winning 200 and 400 free relays at state.

Kolby Reese, Iowa City West, soph. — Finished seventh in the 200 free (1:56.85) and seventh in the 500 free (5:12.85) at state.

Audrey Repko, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr. — Finished sixth at state in the 500 free (5:08.26).

Jade Roghair, Iowa City West, jr. — Finished third in the 200 free (1:52.85), fourth in the 500 free (5:02.64) and was part of winning 200 and 400 free relays at state.

Olivia Taeger, Iowa City West, sr. — Finished seventh in the 100 free (53.60) and was part of the winning 200 and 400 free relays at state.

Heidi Stalkfleet, Iowa City High, sr. — Finished third in the 500 free (4:51.22) and third in the 100 fly (56.30) at state.

Corrin Williams, Linn-Mar, sr. — Finished eighth at state diving with a score of 440.90.