Colville sets record at home

Heading into its home opener with Mason City on Tuesday, the Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella Aquagirls swim team expected a big challenge from the Mohawks. After all, Mason City was ranked No. 5 on the latest state power rankings and features some of the state’s fastest swimmers. What the Aquagirls thought turned out to be true, but NCMP did plenty of good, too, as the home opener turned out to be a success for both teams. In the end, Mason City came away with the win, beating NCMP, 101-84, in front of a good crowd at a steamy Newton YMCA. “We knew we were going to have a challenge on our hands,” Newton coach Sarah Patterson said. “The meet was good all the way through.” The highlight of the day came from freshman sensation Ellen Colville in the 200-meter Individual Medley. Having already set one record this year, Colville took down another mark, touching the wall in the IM in second place with a time of 2:34.82, beating the old record by nearly three seconds. The night started with NCMP taking second and third in the 200-meter medley relay. The second-place team was made up of Colville — a student at Colfax-Mingo — junior Michelle Rabeadeaux, senior Caitlyn Meyer and sophomore Lindsey Hook. That unit finished in 2:16.20 and trailed the Mohawks’ top team by four seconds. Mason City’s best medley team is currently ranked No. 1 in the state’s power rankings. The third-place team consisted of freshman Courtney Meyer, senior Molly Hunke, Hannah Long and Dani Peters. Their time was 2:27.65. A 2-3-4 finish came in the next race as Stephanie Griffith and Morgan Daniels grabbed the silver and bronze, respectively, in the 200-meter freestyle, while Ashley Koons placed fourth. Griffth finished in 2:24.96, and Daniels hit the wall in 2:28.71. Colville put up a good fight in the IM against one of the state’s best swimmers. She led or was close to the lead midway through but ran into trouble on the breastroke. Still, it’s not bad for a freshman who is sure to turn some heads during her career with the Aquagirls. If she hasn’t already. “It feels overwhelming (to set another record),” Colville said. “I feel pretty good so far. We have been working hard, and I am sure the team is tired today. I’m excited about where I am at and for the rest of the season.” Also competing in the 200 IM was Rabedeaux as she finished in fourth with a time of 2:47.81. Hook found herself in a very tight race in the super fast 50-meter freestyle. The race was neck-and-neck throughout as the NCMP sophomore was edged out at the wall. She finished in 30.23, second place by just 0.42 seconds. Also placing well in the event was Courtney Meyer and Sally Campbell, whose third and fourth allowed NCMP to tie the team score at 31. With only one diver — Jeanann Dougan — competing in varsity, Mason City jumped past NCMP with a 1-2 finish on the board. Dougan placed third overall, but the Mohawks jumped back in front, 43-35. Caitlyn Meyer and Hunke came in second and third, respectively in the 100 freestyle, and Hunke’s time was a season best. Colville put on another show in the next event as she topped Mason City’s Shea Brunsvold in a tight 400-meter freestyle race. The race was neck-and-neck for the first 300 before Colville pulled away. Brunsvold has the seventh fastest time in the 200 freestyle and the eighth fastest in the 100 and also is a big part of both feestyle relay teams. “She pounded out the last few lengths,” Patterson said. “She looked so strong and was really going after it. I love to watch gutsy swims like that.” The 200 freestyle relay team of Hook, Rabedeaux, Courtney Meyer and Griffith took second but swam a fast time against one of the best 200 relay teams in the state. Other strong finishes on the night included Caitlyn Meyer and Daniels going 2-3 in the 100 backstroke and Hunke swimming another personal best in the 100 breastroke on her way to a second-place tally. The 400 relay team also finished second with a time of 4:20.13. NCMP next swims Tuesday at home against Des Moines North and Perry.