Linn-Mar’s Hudson Huberg chasing elusive top rung at boys’ state swimming

MARION — Being on the podium at the boys’ state swimming meet is nothing new for Hudson Huberg.

The top step of the podium? That’s a different story.

In an attempt to make it to that top step, the Linn-Mar junior has qualified in a new event this season, the 200-yard freestyle. Huberg has twice finished third in the 50 free and has a third and a fifth in the 100 free.

The 200 replaces the 50 in Huberg's state itinerary. He also will be on Lions' 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays for the meet, which begins on Friday with preliminaries at 5 p.m. Finals set for noon Saturday at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Pool in Iowa City.

Top-ranked Waukee Northwest is favored to win the team title with Cedar Falls, West Des Moines Valley and Dubuque Hempstead also expected to contend. Linn-Mar is the top-ranked Gazette area team, entering the meet ranked sixth.

Huberg's growth during his high school career has come not only in the pool, but also in his physical stature. That growth played into the decision to make a state run in the 200 free.

"He's gotten stronger and taller and it better suits him to swim the 200 over the 50," said Linn-Mar co-coach Tom Belin. "The 50 is a lot of timing and a lot of things have to fall into place. There's very little room for error.

"Hudson is a great swimmer who has great technique. We thought that we would try the 200 this year and see where he falls."

Huberg has embraced the move to the 200, where he has the third fastest qualifying time for the state meet.

"I think some extra training and switching things up to keep it fresh made it (a good plan)," he said. "Looking at how everyone can do and how we have trained, it just worked out for everybody to be where they need to be and do what they need to do."

In the 100, Huberg is seeded fourth and both relays he is likely to swim are seeded third.

The Lion standout admitted he has been thinking about being on that top step in Iowa City for a long time.

"I'm always keeping that on my mind," Huberg said about winning a state title. "I'll be going for it in the 100 and the 200 and both relays for sure. Having another good week of rest and I think I'll be ready."

Belin believes Huberg has what it takes to achieve that goal.

"He just needs to relax and swim within himself," said the veteran Linn-Mar coach. "He has got all of the components to put it together and as coaches hopefully we will be able to get him to that point where he is just able to do his thing and ascend to that top spot."

Other area athletes expected to contend for titles include Cedar Rapids Washington's Andrew Seifert, Iowa City West's Hayden Hakes and Huberg's Linn-Mar teammate, Parker Macho.

Seifert, a junior, has the top qualifying times in the 200 individual medley (1:49.85) and the 100 breaststroke (55.36). Hakes, a senior, has the top entry time in the 500 freestyle (4:34.95). He also is seeded second in the 200 freestyle. Macho is seeded third in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.

West also has the top seed times in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

Boys’ state swimming

When: Friday preliminaries at 5 p.m., Saturday finals at noon.

Where: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Pool at the University of Iowa, Iowa City

TV: KCRG 9.2 (on air and website)

Boys Swimming State Qualifiers

(Top Qualifier and Gazette-area athletes)

200-yard medley relay: 1. Iowa City West 1:33.06, 3. Linn-Mar 1:35.47, 10. CR Washington 1:37.70, 17. Iowa City High 1:41.70, 24. CR Kennedy 1:43.73.

200 freestyle: 1. Teagen Renze (Carroll) 1:38.79, 2. Hayden Hakes (IC West) 1:41.00, 3. Hudson Huberg (LM) 1:41.30, 16. Rylee Sieren (LM) 1:45.98, 20 Braydon Calonder (IC High) 1:46.69, 25. Peter Wittnebel (CRW) 1:47.78.

200 individual medley: 1. Andrew Seifert (CR Wash) 1:49.85, 3. Parker Macho (LM) 1:54.23, 12. Owen Sieren (LM) 1:59.24, 21. Nikolai Paulson (IC West) 2:01.93, 32. Jack Tunwall (IC West) 2:07.12.

50 freestyle: 1. Finn Martin (Newton) 20.46, 5. Oliver Mikulski (IC West) 21.35, 23. Maxwell Macho (LM) 22.26.

100 butterfly: 1. Dylan Alt (Waukee NW) 49.03, 3. Parker Macho (LM) 49.21, 5. Winston Fan (IC West) 50.36, 14. Ethan Landon (IC West) 52.70, 21. Carter Byers (LM) 53.62.

100 freestyle: 1. Finn Martin (Newton) 45.23, 3. Philip Berry-Stoelzle (IC High) 46.52, 4. Hudson Huberg (LM) 46.66, 20. Braydon Calonder (IC High) 48.65, 29. AJ Miller (CR Kennedy) 49.58.

500 freestyle: 1. Hayden Hakes (IC West) 4:34.95, 18. Rylee Sieren (LM) 4:55.26, 21. Tyler Brekke (CR Kennedy) 4:56.17, 24. Nikolai Paulson (IC West) 4:59.41, 25. Remy Barton (CR Wash) 5:00.32, 30. Carter Below (CR Kennedy) 5:02.28, 31. Evan Staber (IC West) 5:02.74.

200 freestyle relay: 1. Cedar Falls 1:26.07, 6. CR Washington 1:27.67, 9. Linn-Mar 1:28.30, 23. Decorah 1:32.25.

100 backstroke: 1. Teagen Renze (Carroll) 49.71, 3. Ethan Landon (IC West) 51.33, 11. Oliver Mikulski (IC West) 53.53, 12. Gavin Lucas (CR Wash) 53.93, 14. Maxwell Macho (LM) 54.08, 29. Brody Lamos (CR Kennedy) 56.62.

100 breaststroke: 1. Andrew Seifert (CR Wash) 55.36, 5. Winston Fan (IC West) 57.35, 11. Owen Sieren (LM) 59.14, 16. Jack Tunwall (IC West) 1:00.29.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Iowa City West 3:08.20, 3. Linn-Mar 3:10.81, 13. CR Washington 3:18.70, 22. CR Kennedy 3:21.32.