West races to runner-up finish at MVC meet

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sometimes simpler is better, and Iowa City West swim coach Rob Miecznikowski's message couldn't have been any more straightforward.

Forget about times and other swimmers, and just compete.

“We basically told them just to race,” Miecznikowski said. “I wasn't too worried about their times. I just wanted them to race. I think we really came through and did that (Saturday).”

The message was received as West captured a meet-high four titles, placing second with 371 1/2 points at the Mississippi Valley Conference swimming and diving meet Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Cedar Falls remained atop the conference, scoring 432 1/2 points for its fourth straight MVC team title.

Championship season is usually accompanied by a taper phase, which reduces the amount of training to recuperate for the postseason. West hasn't reached that stage yet, which makes their ability to match or surpass their best times at the conference meet a strong achievement.

“I'm very happy,” Miecznikowski said. “Right now, we're not rested at all and none of the teams really should be."

West hoarded titles early in the competition, claiming three of the first five events. Senior Kathleen Bowman ignited the winning ways with the 200 free crown. Bowman used her endurance and stamina to make a charge in the last half of the race, touching the wall in 2:00.83. She eclipsed a lead by Brittany Moffatt of Cedar Falls and won by .20 seconds. Miecznikowski said Bowman had a "well played" strategy.

“She didn't pick it up,” Miecznikowski said. “She just maintained the same pace, while everybody else was slowing down, and that's what we train for, that's how we train. She did an excellent job.”

Last year at this time, Bowman was attempting to return from a serious shoulder injury that hampered her junior season. Things are going much better now.

“It's awesome,” Bowman said. “I've been working really hard this season. It started off rough but it's getting better and better. I'm happy I could pull that off.”

West teammate Lilian Zhu followed by winning the 200 individual medley in 2:11.61, pulling away in the final leg.

Sophomore Tereysa Lehnertz showed the same kind of closing ability in winning the 100 butterfly. Lehnertz trailed in the last 25 yards to edge Aftin Phyfe of Cedar Falls by .19 seconds.

“Tereysa is a very good control swimmer,” Miecznikowski said. “She doesn't get rattled. She swims her race and hold the stroke together. That's exactly what she did.”

Zhu and lehnertz teamed with Maria Gannon and Savannah Butler to dominate the 400 free relay, racing to a championship time of 3:43.00. They finally produced a total team effort.

“That was the first time we had all four girls hit together,” Miecznikowski said. “That was a couple second time drop.”

Linn-Mar's Emilie Berg helped lead the Lions to fourth in the team standings with 258 points. Berg entered the competition more than a second faster than the rest of the 100 breaststroke field. She maintained her advantage, knifing through the water in 1:08.18 for her first conference title. She was a runner-up last year.

“The breaststroke in the state is so competitive, and I love being up there and being able to compete with everyone,” Berg said. “I'm really competitive. There's nothing like winning.”

Berg said her goal is to end her senior year with a bang, meaning she wants to reach her potential at the state meet. She said she hasn't done that yet, but the the team's bond and camaraderie has motivated her.

“It's really good to have that in practice and pushing me and making me work harder,” Berg said. “I think that's showing in everyone's races, including mine.”

Berg joined Lizzie Adams, Lauren Dalecky and Alex Dunn to win the 200 free relay in 1:41.98. Dunn, who was third in the 50 free, posted a 24.75 split in the anchor leg to overtake Cedar Falls for first.

“She's done a great job this year," Berg said of Dunn. "She is really shining. She has an unstoppable 50 freestyle, so I'm really happy for her.”

Cedar Rapids Washington's Jackie Hughes earned gold as well. Hughes raced to victory in the 500 free, finishing in 5:18.70.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy finished third overall with 290 1/2 points. With Cedar Falls and West in the other division of the conference, Kennedy was able to capture its sixth straight divisional title. Depth and balance were key for the Cougars, who didn't win an event, but tallied enough points to top Linn-Mar. Newcomers and veterans to MVC competition merged to elevate Kennedy.

“It was terrific swimming,” Kennedy Coach John Ross said. “We had young ladies that stepped up.”

The MVC's record underwent a little bit of a rewrite Saturday. Three conference, and Jefferson pool, records were broken. Cedar Falls opened with a record-setting time of 1:51.46 to win the 200 medley relay. The Tigers owned the old conference mark of 152.69 set in 2005. Cedar Falls senior Kelsey Abbas, who led off the record-breaking relay, posted a new record in the 100 back. Abbas won in 58.65, improving her previous record of 58.86 from last year. Abbas also won the 100 free.

Dubuque Senior's Molly Lembezeder added to the notable performances, rewriting a pair of longtime records. She won the 50 free in 24.43, breaking the old mark of 24.46 set in 1997 by Cedar Falls' Katie Galligan. The feats demonstrate the talent level in the MVC.

“I think the teams have just gotten better,” Miecznikowski said. “Everybody's swimming at a better level.

“Our conference is really strong.”

Teams - 1. Cedar Falls 432.5, 2. Iowa City West 371.5, 3. C.R. Kennedy 290.5, 4. Linn-Mar 258, 5. Dubuque Senior 172, 6. Waterloo West 157, 7. Dubuque Hempstead 150, 8. C.R. Washington 143.5, 9. Dubuque Wahlert 89, 10. C.R. Jefferson 87, 11. Iowa City High 72, 12. Waterloo East 22.

200 medley relay - 1. Cedar Falls (Kelsey Abbas, Montana Clasby, Abbie Anderson, Aftin Phyfe), 1:51.46*; 2. Iowa City West 1:54.29; 3. C.R. Kennedy 1:55.72; 200 free - 1. Kathleen Bowman (ICW), 2:00.83; 2. Brittany Moffatt (CF), 2:01.03; 3. Jessica Schmeiser (CRK), 2:02.76; 200 IM - 1. Lilian Zhu (ICW), 2:11.61; 2. Phyfe (CF), 2:13.79; 3. Autumn Roepsch (DS), 2:16.59; 50 free - 1. Molly Lembezeder (DS), 24.43*; 2. Tereysa Lehnertz (ICW), 24.84; 3. Alex Dunn (LM), 25.59; 100 butterfly - 1. Lehnertz (ICW), 1:00.09; 2. Phyfe (CF), 1:00.28; 3. Lexi Scharmer (CRK), 1:00.87; 100 free - 1. Abbas (CF), 54.01; 2. Lembezeder (DS), 54.16; 3. Zhu (ICW), 54.21; 500 free - 1. Jackie Hughes (CRW), 5:18.70; 2. Clare Slagel (DH), 5:20.08; 3. Moffatt (CF), 5:24.54; 200 free relay - 1. Linn-Mar (Emilie Berg, Lizzie Adams, Lauren Dalecky, Dunn), 1:41.98; 2. Cedar Falls 1:42.64; 3. C.R. Kennedy 1:43.20; 100 back - 1. Abbas (CF), 58.65*; 2. Slagel (DH), 59.31; 3. Scharmer (CRK), 1:04.08; 100 breaststroke - 1. Berg (LM), 1:08.18; 2. Savannah Butler (ICW), 1:10.02; 3. Hughes (CRW), 1:10.84; 400 free relay - 1. Iowa City West (Zhu, Maria Gannon, Butler, Lehnertz), 3:43.00; 2. Cedar Falls 3:45.27; 3. Dubuque Senior 3:48.70.

* - Conference and Jefferson pool record.