J-Hawks have lineup options with return of Chung

CEDAR RAPIDS – Jaylee Chung was anxious to get back in the pool.

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson junior – a 200-yard freestyle state qualifier in 2013 – cut her sophomore season short to rest a worn right shoulder.

'I love swimming so much,” Chung said. 'It was kind of hard to be like, ‘I've got to take this rest,' but it was a good year.”

This year looks to be even brighter as Chung leads the J-Hawks in all four freestyle events (50-yard, 100, 200, 500). Her benchmark 50-free time (25.51) is fifth in the Mississippi Valley Conference and on the cusp of the top 20 in the state. Whether it's sprint or distance events, Chung's versatility gives her and the J-Hawks solid options in dual and postseason meets.

'I've always liked swimming everything,” Chung said. 'I personally have no favorite. I enjoy swimming all of them, so it's good that I can swim a lot of stuff.”

Jefferson (2-2, 1-2 MVC) hosts Cedar Falls (4-0, 4-0 MVC) Tuesday at 6.

HUGHES BOOSTS STOUT WASH SOPHOMORE CLASS

Last year, it was difficult not to notice Cedar Rapids Washington's promising collection of talented freshmen.

Turns out the Warriors had another waiting in the wings.

Washington sophomore Jenny Hughes – who as a Kennedy resident was forced to sit out the 2014 varsity season – is the latest in her family to travel crosstown to swim for Coach Megan Lewis.

'I've loved Coach Lewis since I was eight,” Hughes said. 'My siblings are on the (record) board. She works on the little things.”

Hughes has taken hold of the top spot in both distance events (200-yard freestyle and 500) for the Warriors, and her 500-free time of 5:30.27 ranks fifth in the MVC.

'I think things have been going really well,” Hughes said. 'I was the one jumping crazy because I just love everyone on this team.”

Hughes has been a valuable addition to a Washington sophomore class that includes Lauren Havertape, Emily Nelson, Delaney Thoma and Caitlin Sievers. Havertape, Nelson and Sievers all return with state-meet experience, either individually or via relays. Sievers currently ranks 10th in the state in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.48).

'I think all my freshmen who came back this year as sophomores had the goal, the idea of, ‘OK, we're decent, we can win some things, we can qualify for some things,'” Lewis said. 'They worked hard in the offseason and that is starting to show now as we progress throughout our season.”

SUPER SCHEMMEL

At the loaded Iowa City High Invitational on Saturday, Muscatine junior Sarah Schemmel notched a pair of season-best times with two wins – a blistering 51.79-second 100-yard freestyle, plus a 200 IM time of 2:08.64.

Benchmark times have proved notable for Schemmel this season, as she is currently ranked first or second in the state in all four freestyle events, the 100-yard butterfly and is third in the 200 IM.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com