NCMP boys come up short at district

JOHNSTON — NCMP’s boy swimmers made three trips to the district meet podium, but their times in the events were not fast enough to qualify for the 2017 Iowa High School Boys’ State Swim Meet.

The fastest 24 individual swimmers and relay teams from district competition qualify for state competition.

“If you look at the final results, we placed last as at team and didn’t qualify anyone for state. Someone might assume we didn’t have a good district meet or a good season. Well, they would be wrong,” NCMP head coach Sarah Patterson said. “We had an awesome season where the boys worked hard, bonded with each other, and made it a family atmosphere. We had outstanding senior leadership from all six of our guys, and we pushed our limits in the pool all the way to the end.”

The NCMP Cardinals’ 200-yard medley relay team opened Saturday’s district swim meet with a sixth-place finish. The team of freshman Jacob Nedder, sophomores Carter Briggs and Mason Lee and senior Clay Trotter posted a time of 1 minute, 48.55 seconds, which put the foursome on the podium.

The four swimmers each had a personal-best split, Patterson said. She said out of 39 possible swims by the Cardinals at the district meet, they had 35 personal-best times and four times right at seed times.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group, and our team as a whole,” Patterson said.

Junior Caleb Gaylor turned in a sixth-place time of 4:58.77 in the pool at Johnston’s Summitt Middle School. He earned a podium visit and a district medal in the 500 freestyle event.

In the 100 breaststroke, Briggs finished sixth in 1:05.13 to make the podium. Briggs had earlier placed 10th in the 200 individual medley race in 2:14.62.

“Carter had an outstanding meet. Posting a personal best time in the breaststroke and dropped seven seconds in his 200 IM,” Patterson said. “He is a big-meet swimmer who flies under the radar.  He’s a pretty quiet guy, but when the stakes are high, he really shines.”

Gaylor was eighth in the 200 freestyle in 1:48.22. Gaylor anchored the 200 freestyle relay to seventh place. He along with Trotter, seniors Paul Maharry and Logan Heisdorffer posted a time of 1:32.56.

“Although Caleb just missed making state, he posted personal best time and swam really smart races. The cool thing is that he is already ready to start working hard for next year,” Patterson said. “He is a super-motivated kid who brings others along on the competitive journey.  He has been really fun to have on relays.”

Trotter, Heisdorffer, sophomore Adam Hunter and Gaylor combined for eighth in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:26.56. Patterson said they knew it was a long-shot to qualify, but the foursome wanted to finish the meet with a statement swim.

“All four guys had 100 freestyle personal bests,” she said. “Coach Quin Knepper and I have had a lot fun coaching this team this year.”

Johnston won the team district title with 414 points with Ames in second with 391. Des Moines Roosevelt took third with 237 followed by Lewis Central 222, Atlantic 189, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln/Thomas Jefferson 177 and Marshalltown with 165 for seventh. NCMP was eight with 153 points.

Hunter was 13th in the 500 freestyle in 5:14.90 and sophomore Deklan Lewis had a personal-best 5:39.51 for 18th. Hunter was 18th in the 200 freestyle in 1:57.26 and Heisdorffer was 19th in 1:58.26.

“Logan Heisdorffer dropped from a 2:09 to a 1:58.26.  That is an incredible swim and makes my top five of all time list of amazing swims,” Patterson said. “Not to be outdone, in the next heat Adam Hunter went from a 2:02 to a 1:57.26.  This young man consistently works hard and he saw big pay off at this meet.”

In the 100 freestyle, Heisdorffer took 15th in 52.77 seconds and senior Logan Zaabel was 24th in 1:07.86. All three were personal bests. Trotter was ninth in the 50 freestyle in 23.34 followed by Lee in 12th at 23.87 seconds and senior Nick Ver Steeg in 24th at 28.87.

Patterson said Trotter, Lee and Ver Steeg all improved on their seed times in the 50 freestyle. She said the three who swam in the butterfly race had great swims, dropping time.

Maharry placed 12th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.11 and freshman Izaak Miller was 21st in 1:21.56. Lee finished 14th in the 100 butterfly in 1:04.93 while freshman Clay Meyer was 16th in 1:07.12 and sophomore Mitch Faidely was 20th in 1:13.01.

Nedder posted a 13th-place finish in the 100 backstroke in 1:04.77 with Lewis in 14th at 1:05.39 and Meyer in 18th at 1:08.81. Nedder place 16th in the 200 individual medley in 2:27.95 and Miller was 19th in 2:46.16.

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