MVC boys’ swimmers rising to the top of state rankings

CEDAR RAPIDS — If the current top times hold, there will be a number of area swimmers standing on the top step of the podium at next month's state boys’ swimming meet.

As of Monday, six of the eight individual events and two of the three relays are currently led by Gazette-area swimmers.

"It is starting to really look good for our conference to have a very good showing at (the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center) down in Iowa City," said Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Matt Sinnott in reference to next month's state meet.

Depending on how he is used at the state meet, Iowa City West's Hayden Hakes could end up being the best of the best. The senior, who has committed to swim collegiately at Arizona State, has the state's best times in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.26), 500 free (4:41.55) and the 100 backstroke (49.03). He also is part of the Trojans' state-leading 200 medley relay (1:35.76).

Hakes finished second in the 500 in last year's state meet.

Linn-Mar has a pair of talented juniors who are state title contenders as well. Parker Macho, who has committed to Cincinnati, has the top times in the 100 butterfly (48.80) and the 200 individual medley (1:53.46) and is second in the 100 backstroke (50.48). Macho was second at state in 2024 in the 100 fly and his season best is nearly a half-second better than his state time last season.

Hudson Huberg, a Minnesota commit, has been a standout sprinter for the Lions for three seasons. He has the top time in the 100 free (45.91) and his 200 free time of 1:40.73 has him just behind Hakes. He was third at state in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free in 2024.

Macho and Huberg also are part of the Lions' state-leading 400 relay team (3:13.28). West's team, which includes Hakes and junior Winston Fan, is second at 3:14.24. Fan, a junior, currently has the No. 2 times in the 100 breaststroke (57.97) and the 200 IM (1:54.76)

Cedar Rapids Washington's Andrew Seifert also is having a strong season. He is currently third in the 100 free (46.86) and the 100 breaststroke (58.62). Seifert also is fourth in the 200 IM (1:57.08). The junior came on strong at the end of last season, as has been the case for so many Warrior swimmers over the years.

Sinnott praised his work ethic and said "he has goals" he wants to meet. Sinnott said the state meet is shaping up to be a very competitive event.

"I expect that a few swimmers in our conference will have a very good shot at winning individual state titles against Finn Martin (Newton), Kiefer Roemer (Bettendorf), Dylan Alt (Waukee Northwest), John Trosper (Waukee) outside of our conference," he said. "We are going to see some great battles in the pool."

Big meet at Linn-Mar

Five of the state's top 11 teams will be in action Saturday at the 10-team Linn-Mar Invitational. Action begins at noon.

No. 3 Waukee Northwest is the top-ranked team in the field. The host Lions are ranked fifth. Other ranked teams include No. 7 Iowa City West, No. 10 Pleasant Valley and No. 11 West Des Moines Dowling.

Northwest's Alt is third behind Macho and Fan in the 200 IM, third behind Macho in the 100 fly and is fourth behind Macho and Hakes in the 100 back.

Linn-Mar also will be one of the six hosts for the district meets on Feb. 8. Ames, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Mason City and Waukee are the other host sites. District assignments are expected to be released next week.