West's Lehnertz wins two events

CORALVILLE - Tereysa Lehnertz gave in to peer pressure.

The Iowa City West sophomore decided to join the Trojans' girls swim program after she urged her to try it.

“My friends were on the team and they all said you'll love it and you have to do it," Lehnertz said. "I said I'll give it one year and I'll see if I like it and I love it.

“I'll definitely do it my junior and senior year.”

That likely makes those connected with the West program happy.

Lehnertz won two events, coming close to a pair of school records, in a 108-78 loss Tuesday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet loss to Cedar Falls at Coralville Rec Center.

Lehnertz won the 50 free in 24.85 seconds, winning by more than 1.5 seconds. She was a half-second off Allison Lyle's record time of 24.35 in 1997. Lehnertz added a win in the 100 butterfly, touching the wall in 59.24, which was even closer to Grace Murray's mark of 58.84 set in 2008.

The approach was simple. Before the race, West Coach Rob Miecznikowski told her to try and post her fastest time.

“I went as fast as I can,” said Lehnertz, whose mom Blanca Castillo-Lehnertz swam for Kansas University and is an assistant club coach. “I was pleased with my times.”

As a freshman, Lehnertz opted to focus solely on her development in club swimming for the Iowa Flyers Swim Club. She was excited to swim for the club's new coach, but this year her friends and teammates were persuasive, fortunately for West.

“This year she decided to come out for the team,” Miecznikowski said. “She's been a huge help.”

Miecznikowski added, “She's quick. She works really hard.”

The team spirit and camaraderie of the West team is a strong motivator. Lehnertz said she couldn't have swam as fast without the cheers during the 50 free.

“I could hear them the whole time,” Lehnertz said. “I love it.”

She also teamed with Lilian Zhu, Maria Gannon and Savannah Butler to win the 400 free relay in 3:45.03. Butler also won the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:08.69.

Zhu, who was a part of last year's record-setting 200 medley and 400 free relays, also challenged two individual school records. She won the 200 individual medley in 2:10.08 and posted a time of 53.93 in the 100 free, placing second to Aftin Phyfe of Cedar Falls in the 100 free. Phyfe won in 53.80.

Zhu was only .18 back of Kasia Gawronska's 200 IM record (2:09.90) set in 1993, and missed the longest standing swim record, finishing more than a half-second behind Erin Luebke's 100 free time of 53.34 set in 1989.

Individual records are a nice accomplishment, but Zhu isn't focused on them.

“If it happens, I'd be really happy." Zhu said. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it's alright.”

Perennial power Cedar Falls won seven of 12 events, including two winning performances from Aftin Phyfe in the 100 and 200 free. The team results aren't indicative of the successful night for West.

“We had incredible swims all the way across the board,” said Miecznikowski, noting each of his backtroke swimmers swam personal bests. “I couldn't ask for anything more.

“I was really pleased with our whole team.”

200 medley relay - 1. Cedar Falls (Jade Jacobs, Natalie Shimp, Catherine Sell, Martee Grainger), 1:52.24;

200 free - 1. Aftin Phyfe (CF), 1:58.99;

200 IM - 1. Lilian Zhu (ICW), 2:10.08;

50 free - Tereysa Lehnertz (ICW), 24.85;

100 fly - 1. Lehnertz (ICW), 59.24;

100 free - Phyfe (CF), 53.80;

500 free - 1. Brittany Moffatt (CF), 5:19.25;

200 free relay - 1. Cedar Falls (Phyfe, Grainger, Shimp, Kelsey Abbas), 1:42.95;

100 back - 1. Abbas (CF), 58.97;

100 breaststroke - 1. Savannah Butler (ICW), 1:08.69;

400 free relay - 1. Iowa City West (Zhu, Maria Gannon, Butler, Lehnertz), 3:45.03.

1-meter diving - Hannah Brummel (CF), 235.75.