March 19, 2024

Aquagirls pick up two more wins, now 10-0

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It's still far too early to say if this is the best Aquagirls team in Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella history, but it's certainly worthy of that discussion after Thursday night.

The Aquagirls picked up two more dual wins at Boone, both in dominant fashion, to improve to a perfect 10-0 on the season with victories of 69-32 over Boone and 74-24 over Algona in a triangular.

It is believed that NCMP's all-time best dual season record was 9-1, which means that the current squad has now eclipsed that mark.

Coach Sarah Patterson said she was surprised to find out the meet was a double dual, and that Boone's coach didn't find out until during the day Thursday as well.

The NCMP JV also continued its big season. It defeated Boone 83-12 and Algona 83-0 to improve to 9-1 on the season.

"We came away with wins and had some solid swims, but honestly, it was one of those meets that is tough to really fire up about," Patterson said. "We mixed up the lineup quite a bit and challenged the girls to race and work on little things."

Highlights from the meet included the "Hannah Relay" of junior Hannah Marston, senior Hannah Rhoads, sophomore Hannah Scotton and senior Hannah Squire winning the JV 200-yard medley relay. The varsity relay of sisters Sidney Griffith (senior) and Sierra Griffith (freshman), freshman Samantha Hedrick and sophomore Sara Martin won as well.

Junior Carly Colville had a good 200 freestyle win with solid splits, while freshman Liz Myers placed second in the 200 individual medley with a strong time. Three JV swimmers competed in their first 200 IMs ever — freshman Brianna Fuller (who won the event), junior Kaitlyn Sorensen and senior Olivia Oliver.

In her first time in the 100 butterfly, freshman Sydney Jenkins won the event in 1 minute, 6.20 seconds.

"She has incredible streamlines, and she took advantage of those for a great swim," Patterson said.

Sophomore Hannah Scotton won the 100 freestyle in 57.80 seconds, while senior Krystal Mapes won the JV race. Senior Kora Scotton shaved 5 seconds off her best 500 freestyle time and won the JV, while Hedrick and Sierra Griffith went 1-2 in the varsity lineup.

Both NCMP's varsity and JV 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams took first. The JV 200 relay consisted of Marston, sophomore McKenna Heisdorffer, freshman Lynae Doland and junior Ellie Rethmeier, while the varsity group was Martin, Jenkins, Sidney Griffith and Colville. The JV 400 team was sophomore Jeannie Etnyre, Kora Scotton, junior Grace Perrin and sophomore Kira Hanson, while the varsity team was Colville, sophomore Rachel Prendergast, Hannah Scotton and Hedrick.

"We are right where we need to be and the girls have to 'breathe, believe, and battle' until the end of the season," Patterson said. "We are NOT backing down to 5th ranked Dowling this Tuesday night on Senior night, so I'm counting on the ladies to stay strong when it's needed most."

Tuesday's meet begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Newton Y.