Iowa City West divers provide a boost

CORALVILLE - The diving team can be an overlooked part of a high school girls' swimming squad. They often compete the morning of, or even the day before, to a fraction of the crowd cheering on the swimmers.

That being said, divers are counted on to provide a boost and an early points lead, and Iowa City West has two of the state's best in seniors Jacintha Thomas and Alex Aaberg.

'We've always held our divers very dear,” said West Coach Rob Miecznikowski, whose Women of Troy (2-0) travel to perennial Mississippi Valley Conference power Cedar Falls (2-0) tonight at 6. 'We want them here. A lot of coaches (say), ‘Well, it's only one event. They take up a lot of pool space.' We're happy they're here.”

Despite the fact Thomas and Aaberg both are three-time state diving qualifiers who placed in the top six at last year's state meet, the pair often have to remind their West classmates of their exact role on the squad.

'Even at school, everyone's like, ‘Good luck at your swim meet,'” Thomas said with a laugh. 'I'm diving, but thanks anyways.”

'I had to explain to them that I actually don't know how to swim,” Aaberg said. 'And I don't swim fast. I doggy-paddle.”

Thomas has her sights set on breaking the MVC-record score of 486.85, while a top-four finish at state has been Aaberg's goal since she was a freshman. The two former gymnasts are chasing Ames senior Maggie James, a three-time defending state champion.

'It's always pushing me to learn new dives and perfect the dives that I have,” Thomas said.

FAST OFF THE BLOCK

Iowa City High's Taylor Pajunen is off to a strong start for the Little Hawks (1-1). The sophomore won the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle in opening dual meets against Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Williamsburg.

'You can really tell in her training and in the pace work that we're doing in practice,” first-year City High girls' swimming coach Zane Hugo said. 'She's got a bright season ahead of her.”

City High hosts Dubuque Senior (0-1) at Mercer Aquatic Center tonight at 6.

JENKS BACK TONIGHT?

Linn-Mar junior Stephanie Jenks' return to swim competition was further delayed by an elbow injury sustained during the bike portion of the International Triathlon Union Junior and Under-23 Triathlon World Championships on Aug. 29 in Canada.

Coach Chad Derlein expects to have Jenks available in a limited capacity when the Lions (2-1) host Cedar Rapids Washington (1-1) at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center tonight at 6. Jenks, a state champion distance runner and swimming state qualifier in the 500 freestyle, is expected to compete in a pair of relays.

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