Iowa high school girls’ swimming 2024: The Gazette’s area individuals and teams to watch

The Gazette’s area individuals and teams to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school girls’ swimming and diving season.

Swimmers and divers to watch

Lilly Adams, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr. — Finished 13th in the 200-yard individual medley at the 2023 state meet (2:12.98) and 16th in the 500 free (5:26.94).

Averie Bilskemper, Iowa City West, sr. — Finished eighth at state in the 100 freestyle (53.60).

Maura Carstensen, Linn-Mar, sr. — Finished 15th in the 100 butterfly at state (1:00.97).

Hannah Geng, Iowa City West, so. — Finished fourth at state in the 200 freestyle (1:52.00) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (58.31)

Gretchen Gerke, Iowa City West, jr. — Finished 14th at state in the 500 freestyle (5:19.61).

Grace Hoeper, Iowa City High, sr. — Was the state champion in the 50 freestyle (23.44) and the 100 freestyle (50.27)

Kamila Swanson, Iowa City West, sr. — Finished third at state in diving with a score of 434.80

Teams to watch

Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Coach Chad Derlein’s team finished 12th at the state meet last season and returns several veterans, headed up by senior Lilly Adams. Juniors Lilly Antil, Laynie Adams and Abby Faughn, along with sophomore Shea Wilson, also were state qualifiers for the Cougars. Senior Liz Renshaw and juniors Sara Foerster and Hadley Christ will provide depth. Freshmen Lucy Nunez and Josie Crist also are expected to contribute. “We will have a young, well-balanced team,” Derlein said. “It will be fun to see what the younger swimmers will be able to pull out of this season.”

Iowa City High — Grace Hoeper is back for her senior season, coming off state championships in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles. Coach Mandi Kowal also returns state qualifiers in seniors Elisa Farber, Ellie Galloway, Saoirse Miller and sophomore Madelyn Elkins from a group that placed 14th in the state meet last season

Iowa City West — The Trojans welcome a new coach as Kennedy Gilbertson, the MVP of the University of Iowa swim team in 2023, takes over a tradition-rich program. West placed sixth at last year's state meet, scoring 146 points. Three top-eight finishers from that team are back. Senior Kamila Swanson was third in diving. Sophomore Hannah Geng was fourth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 butterfly. Senior Averie Bilskemper placed eighth in the 100 free. Senior Isabella Friessen, along with junior Gretchen Gerke and sophomore Mingemei Lumetta, also qualified for state.