Iowa high school girls’ swimming notes: A look at state leaders as regional assignments arrive soon

It's happened in track and cross country and last year it made its debut at the boys’ state swimming meet.

For the first time at this year's girls’ state meet, para-swimming events will be contested.

“I think we may have anywhere from one to three entries,” said Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Associate Director Jason Eslinger.

The IGHSAU established the para-swimming program designed to allow individuals who require the use of a wheelchair the opportunity to become involved in interscholastic sports. Competition at state will be offered in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events, along with the 100 breaststroke.

Para-athletes, just as is the case with other swimmers and divers, must compete at the regional meets to be eligible for the state meet.

Regional sites

The IGHSAU has released the six sites for the regional meets.

Diving will be held on Nov. 3 with the swimming portion of the meets set for Nov. 5. All diving competition will begin at 5 p.m. with the swimming events all set to start at noon.

Linn-Mar will serve as one of the six swimming hosts, along with Clinton, Dubuque Hempstead, Fort Dodge, Johnston and Waukee.

Diving will be held at three sites. Linn-Mar will host divers from both its regional and the Waukee regional. Hempstead also will host those in the Clinton regional while teams in the Fort Dodge regional will dive at Johnston.

Regional team assignments are scheduled to be released Friday.

Johnston star leads the way

With the regular season nearing its completion, one thing looks obvious if you go by the numbers — Johnston's Olivia Swalley is having an outstanding senior season.

She has the state's best time in four different events (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley) and ranks among the top five in three others (100, 200 and 500 free).

While Swalley is the individual leader, the team to beat at the state meet will be defending champion Waukee. The Warriors hold a substantial lead in the power rankings by nearly 200 points over West Des Moines Dowling. Johnston is third, followed by Ames and Iowa City West. Linn-Mar is ranked at No. 9.

Among the individuals, Iowa City West's Jade Roghair is the state leader in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Cedar Rapids Kennedy's 200 free relay team of Maria Trotta, Lilly Anctil, Lilly Adams and Ellie Hance is tied for first with Waukee with a time of 1:40.22.

Here is a list of other Gazette-area athletes ranked in the top five as of Tuesday.

50 free: 2. Grace Hoeper, City High, 24.36

100 free: 2. Hoeper, 52.84, 3 Jade Roghair, Iowa City West, 53.55

200 free: 1. Roghair, 1:53.66

500 free: 1. Roghair, 5:04.99

100 breast: 2. Hayley Kimmel, Linn-Mar 1:06.63

100 fly: 2. Hoeper, 57.61

200 IM: 5. Roghair, 2:10.62

100 back: 3. Kimmel, 58.92

200 free relay: 1. (tie) Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Maria Trotta, Lilly Anctil, Lilly Adams, Ellie Hance) 1:40.22

400 free relay: 3. Iowa City West (Kilby Rese, Makala Hajek, Ave Bilskemper, Roghair), 3:40.47