March 29, 2024

Hedrick, Scotton claim state butterfly medals

NCMP records fall at state meet

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MARSHALLTOWN — Four school records established. Two sub-57-second swims in the 100-yard butterfly and both swimmers finish in the top six.

NCMP’s Aquagirls can say Saturday’s 2014 Iowa Girls’ Diving and Swimming Championships were a success. Seven Aquagirls had strong performances in the pool at Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA.

Junior Samantha Hedrick and senior Hannah Scotton made the podium for the second straight state meet in the 100-yard butterfly for NCMP. Hedrick smashed her own NCMP record in the event earning the second-place medal in 56.09 seconds. Scotton flew under the previous school record also, claiming the sixth-place medal in 56.80 seconds.

“I know the girl next to me (Kelsey Drake of Linn-Mar) and what she was capable of. I’ve been up against her before,” Hedrick said. “I knew how fast I needed to take it out and not get completely blown away. My family pumped me up before the meet, encouraging me. It’s special to share it with Hannah.”

Scotton collected her third straight state medal in the 100 butterfly. As a sophomore, she finished fifth and was fourth a year ago.

“What a great state meet for our girls,” said Sarah Patterson, NCMP head coach. “We came in here wanting to drop times and we did. Everybody gave it their all. Our two butterflies making podium again and to both swim under the school record. To see them hug after the race was special for me as a coach.”

Hedrick established a new NCMP record for the second time in as many weekends. She won a regional championship in 57.11 which eclipsed Scotton’s NCMP record of 57.36. At the state meet, Hedrick used a 25.78-second opening 50 yards to post her second-place finish.

Rachel Prendergast, a senior, had never posted a time of under 56 seconds in a 100-yard freestyle race. She did it twice at regional, winning a regional championship in the 100 and helping the Aquagirls qualify for the 400 freestyle relay event at state.

Prendergast followed the butterfly swimmers at state. Prendergast recorded her third sub-56-second time, placing 23rd in the 100 freestyle at state with a 55.57-second timing. She had one more in her, swimming on the 400 relay in the final event of the meet.

“It’s great to know all have been working hard for as an individual and for the team paid off the past two weekends,” Prendergast said of her performances at state and regional.

“I’m really happy how things went at state. My goal as an individual was to prove I belonged swimming with the other girls in the 100 free and I did that. As a team, we knew we’d have to work hard to reach the podium but we did improve our times. I think the 400 free time can stand a couple of years and push others on the team to go after that time.”

All three NCMP relays turned in school record performances at state. Hedrick and Scotton were on all three relays for the second straight state competition.

The Aquagirls opened state with an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay in a school record time of 1 minute, 50.30 seconds. Juniors Sydney Jenkins and Hannah Rhoads hit the water with the first two legs, swimming the backstroke and breaststroke, respectively. Scotton took over in the butterfly leg then Hedrick swam the freestyle anchor leg.

The same foursome set the former NCMP record, 1:50.45, at the 2013 regional meet.

Senior Sara Martin and freshman Emily Miller combined with Scotton and Hedrick for the 200 freestyle relay race. Martin led off the relay in her final swim for the Aquagirls followed by Scotton, Miller and Hedrick for a NCMP record time of 1:39.08, which placed NCMP 13th at state. The four had set the school record, 1:39.48, a week ago at the regional meet.

“Our goal was to drop time and yes, we’re disappointed in not making the podium. I know they’ll come back to state and do better next year,” Martin said. “It was emotional for me after the 200 relay because it was my last swim. Hannah (Scotton) had one more then after the 400, it all hit us as seniors.”

Scotton, Prendergast, Jenkins and Hedrick lined up for the final race of the season, the 400 freestyle relay Saturday. A year ago Prendergast, Jenkins and Hedrick combined with Carly Coville to set the school mark at 3:39.57 at state. This year’s foursome came within a whisper of breaking the record at regional.

Scotton opened with a 54.59-second leadoff 100 followed by Prendergast turning in a 55.61. Jenkins had the third leg, swimming 57.17, then Hedrick posted an anchor 100-yard time of 51.28 seconds. They dropped more than a seven off the school record (3:39.77) to claim ninth at state in 3:38.65.

“Being able to establish school records on all the relays was great. Having the seniors on the last one was bittersweet because we were happy to have the record but sad it was their last race,” Hedrick said.

NCMP finished 13th as a team with 78 points. Pleasant Valley won an epic back-and-forth battle with Ames atop the team standings. Pleasant Valley scored 301 points to Ames 293 points. Cedar Falls placed fourth with 170 points and Wes Des Moines Valley was fifth with 142 points.

Before the competition Saturday, NCMP assistant coach Chris Forsyth was honored with a 20-year service award. Forsyth has been coaching the NCMP team with Patterson for 20 years.

“This is a fun week for our state qualifiers. We have a lot of traditions from going to Pella one evening, having a spaghetti dinner at my house, coming to Marshalltown to go to the mall, work out during the day and take in some of the state diving. We have a gift exchange,” Patterson said. “These girls work hard all season, earned the right to compete at the state meet and have fun doing it. As coaches, we’re very proud of these seven girls and our team as a whole.”

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.