Iowa high school swimming notes: Success continues for Iowa City West girls after coaching changes

In a year of transition for the Iowa City West girls’ swimming team, the level of success has remained constant.

Longtime head coach Byron Butler resigned his position after last season and was replaced by Ellen Robinson. Last week, Robinson resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Sam Galvin on an interim basis for the rest of the season.

Galvin has a solid swimming background. She swam as a prep at Bettendorf and then went on to compete for two years at Northern Iowa. She transferred to Iowa to finish her academic work, graduating in 2022.

“I work for the Iowa City Community School District as a special education behavior interventionist,” Galvin said. “I was encouraged by co-workers and friends who know my love for the sport to apply for the assistant swim position.

“Seeing the other side of things in swimming is so fun, I am learning so much and now I am the interim head coach for the rest of season so I am really excited.”

West is ranked sixth in the latest power rankings. Defending state champion Waukee is No. 1. The Trojans are 6-0 in dual meets after Tuesday night's victory over Iowa City High. West also took the team title at the Little Hawk Invitational and finished second behind No. 3 Johnston at last Saturday's Cougar Invitational in Cedar Rapids.

Freshman Hannah Geng has been a standout in the early going for West. She is among the state leaders in three events.

“Having Hannah on the team has been such an asset,” Galvin said. “She is a hard worker and she takes training very seriously. It has been great watching her grow and develop as a swimmer”

Galvin had high praise for her swimmers in a season full of change.

“I am really proud of the whole team for working with the transition of a whole new coaching staff,” she said. “I love being able to coach these girls every day as they are such a fun and hard-working group. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

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Versatile Grace Hoeper

City High’s Grace Hoeper is once again showing she would be the swimmer to beat in the 50 freestyle, if she is even entered.

The defending state champion in the event, Hoeper has the state's best time in the event this year (23.37). However, the junior and City High Coach Mandi Kowal will have some choices to make before the state-qualifying meet.

Hoeper also has the state's best time in the 200 free and 100 butterfly. On top of that, she is ranked second in the 500 free and third in the 100 free and 200 individual medley.

Her times in all events already are below state qualifying standards. Swimmers are limited to four total events, two of which can be individual events, at state. To swim at state, an athlete must compete in those events at the state-qualifying meets.

Here's a list of all area competitors ranked in the top eight statewide as of Tuesday:

50 free: 1. Grace Hoeper (Iowa City High) 23.37, 5. Maria Trotta (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) 24.81

100 free: 3. Hoeper 50.73, 6. Hannah Geng (Iowa City West) 53.71

200 free: 1. Hoeper 1:53.09, 6. Geng, 1:56.34

500 free: 2. Hoeper 5:06.33, 8. Kolby Reese (Iowa City West), 5:16.10

100 fly: 1. Hoeper 57.20, 4. Hannah Geng 58.79

200 IM: 3. Hoeper 2:09.21

1M Diving: Kamila Swanson (Iowa City West) 276.30, 5. Kylie Link (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) 265.95

200 free relay: 7. Iowa City West (Hannah Geng, Karen Liu, Averie Bilskemper, Kolby Reese) 1:42.65

200 medley relay: 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Ellie Hance, Lilly Adams, Lilly Anctil, Maria Trotta) 1:51.53

400 free relay: 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Lilly Anctil, Lilly Adams, Maria Trotta, Ellie Hance) 3:40.29

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Iowa high school girls’ swimming state-qualifying sites

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released the six sites for the state-qualifying meets to be held Nov. 4

One of the six meets will be held at the Linn-Mar Aquatics Center. Other host sites will be at Ames, Davenport Central, Dubuque Hempstead, Johnston and Mason City.

Regional diving will be held Nov. 2 with sites to be released with team assignments next month.

The state meet is set for Nov. 10-11 at the Marshalltown YMCA.

Celebration of Life for Chris Cruise

A Celebration of Life for former Cedar Rapids Washington boys’ swimming coach Chris Cruise will be held Oct. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Classic Event Center in the Town & Country Mall, 3607 1st Ave SE.

Cruise died last Thursday after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. The formal program honoring Cruise will begin at 2 p.m.