Super sophomores return to state for Linn-Mar

MARSHALLTOWN - Jenn Jenks admits she wasn't ready for the environment. Kelsey Drake was clearly dissatisfied with the result.

Despite a bronze medal for Jenks and two runner-up finishes for Drake, neither ended their freshman season at last year's girls' state swimming meet in the fashion they desired.

But after tearing up the competition this season, Linn-Mar's dynamic sophomore swimmers return to the Marshalltown YMCA at noon today with another opportunity to become state champions.

'Last year I think I was a little overwhelmed,” Jenks said. 'The environment's so different than club meets, nothing's ever like that. It was so loud, there's so many people, and I love it.”

Last year, Jenks was the top seed in the 100-yard freestyle and second seed in the 200 free; she ended up third in the 100 and 11th in the 200.

'I love that environment, but I wasn't ready for it,” Jenks said. 'So I feel like I suffered last year because of that.”

Jenks is again seeded No. 1 in the 100 and second in the 200. Linn-Mar Coach Chad Derlein fully expects a different performance, one typical of the maturation of a sophomore with experience in the state-meet environment.

'Her mind-set is 1,000-percent better than last year,” Derlein said. 'She understands what it feels like, she understands what it means. She knows what she needs to do. She knows the experience, so she's just ready to go. She cannot wait.”

Drake, who swam for Cedar Rapids Jefferson last season, was second in the 200-yard individual medley after entering as the fourth seed last year. She said early mistakes cost her a state title in the 100-yard butterfly, which she lost by a mere 26-hundredths of a second. Her transfer to Linn-Mar has been wildly successful with one dominant performance after another, including Mississippi Valley Conference meet records in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly and a butterfly state record of 54.51 in last weekend's regional meet.

'How I am feeling now is such an accomplishment and it really boosts my confidence,” said Drake, today's top seed in both races. 'I am that much more excited and the possibilities for state are endless. I am prepared and just ready to go.'

Jenks and Drake also swim on Linn-Mar's third-seeded 400-yard freestyle relay team.

Junior Erica Hsu of Iowa City West is seeded third in the 500-yard freestyle and fifth in the 200 IM. The Cedar Rapids Kennedy 200-yard freestyle relay team of Kirsten Siebenga, Maddie Bagby, Lydia Yang and Sam Jacobsen earned a four seed.

Ames is vying for a fifth-consecutive team title but is expected to be pushed by a deep, talented Pleasant Valley team.

The diving portion of the state meet was completed Friday. Iowa City West senior Jacintha Thomas ended the reign of three-time state champion Maggie James of Ames, 561.10 to 555.70. Both scores eclipsed the 1982 state record by Mary Fischbach of Fort Dodge (535.70).

Linn-Mar teammates Alyssa Deuso and Mikaela Lengwin finished 7-8, while Alex Aaberg of Iowa City West was ninth.

AREA SWIMMING STATE QUALIFIERS AND SEED TIMES

200 medley relay - C.R. Kennedy (1:49.72), Linn-Mar (1:50.17), C.R. Washington (1:53.27), I.C. West (1:54.85), Decorah (1:57.53).

200 free - Jenn Jenks (Linn-Mar), 1:53.46; Maddie Bagby (C.R. Kennedy), 1:56.56.

200 individual medley - Kelsey Drake (Linn-Mar), 2:04.51; Erica Hsu (I.C. West), 2:10.44; Sarah Ritchie (I.C. West), 2:13.99; MacKinzee Macho (C.R. Kennedy), 2:15.44; Brooke Timmerman (C.R. Kennedy), 2:15.72.

50 free - Kirsten Siebenga (C.R. Kennedy), 24.36; Darby Manternach (C.R. Kennedy), 24.72; Lauren Havertape (C.R. Washington), 24.82; Lizzie Adams (Linn-Mar), 24.86; Katelyn Yee (Decorah), 25.07.

100 butterfly - Drake (Linn-Mar), 54.51; Macho (C.R. Kennedy), 1:01.05; Havertape (C.R. Washington), 1:01.62.

100 free - J. Jenks (Linn-Mar), 52.04; Bagby (C.R. Kennedy), 53.49; Siebenga (C.R. Kennedy), 55.07.

500 free - E. Hsu (I.C. West), 5:06.61; Emily Nelson (C.R. Washington), 5:17.51; Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar), 5:19.49; Katie Hagensick (Decorah), 5:25.59; Sarah Gannon (C.R. Kennedy), 5:25.98.

200 free relay - C.R. Kennedy 1:38.25, Linn-Mar 1:40.71, I.C. West 1:43.42.

100 backstroke - Sam Jacobsen (C.R. Kennedy), 58.85; Jessica Williams (C.R. Kennedy), 1:00.85; Adams (Linn-Mar), 1:01.92; Kaitlyn Nemickas (C.R. Washington), 1:01.96; Tessa McRoberts (Williamsburg), 1:02.05.

100 breaststroke - Timmerman (C.R. Kennedy), 1:08.76; Logan Eckhardt (C.R. Washington), 1:09.07; Paige Broghammer (Linn-Mar), 1:10.88.

400 free relay - Linn-Mar 3:35.17, C.R. Kennedy 3:37.25, I.C. West 3:42.49.