Linn-Mar wins first-ever MVC boys’ swimming title

MARION - It was ear-splittingly loud in the Linn-Mar Aquatics Center as the final event of the Mississippi Valley Conference boys' swimming championships Saturday, the 400-yard freestyle relay, hit its last 25-yard stretch.

The Lions already had the team title sewn up, but its relay team was fending off Cedar Rapids Washington in the event and the Linn-Mar fans in attendance were ready to celebrate. It was, after all, the first-ever conference swimming championship for Linn-Mar, which is certainly something to cheer about.

And as anchor Brycen Snell touched the wall nearly two seconds ahead of Washington's Kaleb Donels, celebrate was exactly what they did.

'The guys did great today, but more importantly for us it was good practice,” Linn-Mar coach Tom Belin said. 'We've got a more important meet (districts) coming up in a few weeks. We're excited, but know that we've got more work to do.”

The Lions tallied 346 team points in its victory. Cedar Rapids Washington scored 276.50, edging out Iowa City West (276) by just a half point. Dubuque Senior and Cedar Falls rounded out the top five with marks of 205 and 194.5, respectively. Iowa City High (183), Dubuque Hempstead (181), and Cedar Rapids Kennedy (178) were bunched up in the middle as Cedar Rapids Jefferson (127) and Waterloo (77) finished off the scoring.

Linn-Mar won four events - two individual and two relays - and was led by junior Matt Peng, who was involved in each victory. Peng tied for first in the 50-yard freestyle (22.00) and the 100-yard butterfly (which he swam in 51.85 seconds, a meet record) before leading off the winning 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.02), as well as the aforementioned 400-yard freestyle (3:17.72).

'It feels really good,” Peng said. 'Five years ago, they said once Linn-Mar gets a new pool, we're going to make a big team. I'm just happy all the hard work is paying off. The teamwork has been amazing this year”

Peng tallied the most wins Saturday, though Washington's Cameron Kelley wasn't far behind. Kelley, a senior, won the 200 freestyle (1:43.63) and 500-yard freestyle (4:45.09) during an impressive day in the pool.

Like Belin, however, Kelley is well aware this is just one step toward districts and ultimately the state meet.

'Sure you want to come in and set some records and that's nice, but ultimately coach got us tired, got us unrested,” Kelley said. 'But the focus still has to be on what's coming.”

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