Iowa City High standout swimmer Grace Hoeper sticks with sprints in regional meet

MARION — When it came down to make a decision on her regional events, Grace Hoeper stuck with the sprints.

Entering Saturday’s regional meet at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center, the three-time state champion from Iowa City High held the top times in four events and was among the top five in two others.

Hoeper, who attends Solon and will swim collegiately at Indiana, elected to defend her two 2023 state titles. On Saturday, she won the 50-yard freestyle (23.34 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (50.95) and also swam the lead leg of the Little Hawks’ winning 200 freestyle relay.

The ultimate decision on Hoeper’s events was a collaboration between her and Little Hawks Coach Mandi Kowal. Hoeper also held the top times in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.

“It was more like I just had to think about what I really wanted to swim the most,” Hoeper said. “Honestly, I just put all my faith in Mandi. I have been swimming with her for four years. She knows what I am good at and I know she was going to put me in the best places to succeed at state.”

Next week, Hoeper, who was named the regional meet’s outstanding swimmer, will be in search of her third straight 50 title and a second 100 title. She was equally as excited about the relay win.

“I'm super happy about how the whole day went,” she said. “It wasn't just my times, but our relay times were also really good today. Our team really stepped up.”

As one might expect, Hoeper is looking forward to her final prep competition next week.

“I'm just really excited about getting one more chance to swim at state,” she said. “It's hard to believe that these four years have gone by so fast.”

The team race, as expected, was a battle between Iowa City West and Pleasant Valley.

Coach Kennedy Gilbertson’s team used its depth to take the team title. The Trojans’ only gold medal finish came on Thursday night when Kamila Swanson won the diving contest with a score of 494.20. West finished with 422.5 points. Pleasant Valley won 7 of the 12 events contested to take second with 400 points. Host Linn-Mar was third (356.5)

Gilbertson had another commitment and had to leave just as the meet was ending. Assistant Coach Matt Hamer said the meet went as planned for West.

“That's been our game all year long,” Hamer said in reference to West’s depth. “As a team, top to bottom, I was very proud of our girls.”

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Photos: Girls’ swimming regional meet at Linn-Mar

The other double-event individual winners besides Hoeper were both from Pleasant Valley. Senior Dawsyn Green took top honors in the 200 individual medley (2:07.05) and the 100 butterfly (56.77). Sophomore Tabitha Tallman won the 200 freestyle (1:55.30) and 100 backstroke (1:00.26). Another Spartan, sophomore Camryn Steining won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.22).

Coach Merideth Gorman and her staff were voted the regional coaching staff of the year.

Davenport Central’s Olivia Hopewell won the 500 freestyle (5:13.93)

The state meet will be held next Friday and Saturday at the Linda Bloom Natatorium inside the Marshalltown YMCA.

IGHSAU girls’ swimming regional meet at Linn-Mar

Final Team scoring: 1. IC West 422.5, 2. Pleasant Valley 400, 3. Linn-Mar 356.5, 4. IC High 229, 5. Davenport Central 217, 6. Burlington 183, 7. Decorah 152, 8. Muscatine 132, 9. Tipton 36

EVENT RESULTS

200-yard medley relay: 1. Pleasant Valley (Tabitha Tallman, Caitlin Quinn, Dawsyn Green, Lindsay Durick), 1:50.48, 2. Linn-Mar (Layla Breitbach, Maura Carstensen, Mehal Raghwani, Anna Nordine) 1:54.13, 3. Burlington (Elli Boyer, Alisan Guyton, Kylie Hill, Olivia Ritter) 1:55.39

200 freestyle: 1. Tabitha Tallman (PV) 1:55.30, 2. Hannah Geng (ICW) 1:55.64, 3. Olivia Hopewell (DC) 1:57.23

200 individual medley: 1. Dawsyn Green (PV) 2:07.05, 2. Camryn Steining (PV) 2:10.94, 3. Mehal Raghwani (LM) 2:13.80.

50 para freestyle: 1. Hannah Longmire (ICW) 41.23 , 2. Phoenix Jackson (DC) 1:07.32

50 freestyle: 1. Grace Hoeper (ICH) 23.34, 2. Elizabeth Speers (B) 25.09, 3. Elli Boyer (B) 25.15

100 butterfly: 1. Dawsyn Green (PV) 56.77, 2. Maura Carstensen (LM) 59.84, 3. Kylee Hill (B) 1:00.91

100 para freestyle: 1. Addalyn Worster (Keokuk) 1:07.95, 2. Hannah Longmire (ICW) 1:32.09, 2. Phoenix Jackson (DC) 2:25.36

100 freestyle: 1. Grace Hoeper (ICH) 50.95, 2, Averie Bilskemper (ICW) 53.08, 3. Hannah Geng (ICW) 53.88.

500 freestyle: 1. Olivia Hopewell (DC) 5:13.93, 2. Gretchen Gerke (ICW) 5:18.95, 3. Maggie Nguyen (ICW) 5:21.06

200 freestyle relay: 1. IC High (Grace Hoeper, Elsa Farber, Louisa Berry-Stoelzle, Saoirse Miller) 1:38.93, 2. Burlington (Elli Boyer, Kylee Hill, Olivia Ritter, Elizabeth Speers) 1:40.34, 3. IC West (Hannah Geng, Gabriella Cwiertny, Isabella Friessen, Averie Bilskemper) 1:40.66.

100 para backstroke: 1. Addalyn Worster (Keokuk) 1:21.77

100 backstroke: 1. Tabitha Tallman (PV) 1:00.26, 2. Megan O'Neill (ICW) 1:02.67 , 3. Gabbie Hanson (DC) 1:03.73

100 breaststroke: 1. Camryn Steining (PV) 1:07.22, 2. Caitlin Quinn (PV) 1:07.45, 3. Elizabeth Bucksa (Dec.) 1:07.70

400 freestyle relay: 1. Pleasant Valley (Camryn Steining, Dawsyn Green, Caitlin Quinn, Tabitha Tallman) 3:34.25, 2. IC West (Hannah Geng, Isabella Friessen, Maggie Nguyen, Averie Bilskemper) 3:39.89, 3. IC High (Elsa Farber, Louisa Berry-Stoelzle, Celeste Miller, Grace Hoeper) 3:39.97

Diving (held on Thursday): 1. Kamila Swanson (ICW) 494.20, 2. Tori Sletteland (LM) 380.75, 3. Rowan Russell (ICW) 354.75.

Regional Swimmer of the Year: Grace Hoeper, IC High

Coaching Staff of the Year: Pleasant Valley