March 28, 2024

Aquagirls return to top of Little Hawkeye Conference

NCMP finishes 1-3 in all three relays, wins three individual events in LHC title run

INDIANOLA — The Little Hawkeye Conference girls swim meet literally came down the final event.

The Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella girls swim team led host Indianola by five points with one event to go. And a 1-3 finish in the 400 freestyle relay secured the team title for the Aquagirls.

NCMP went 1-3 in all three relays, finished first in three individual races and registered 10 other top-three finishes at the Indianola YMCA on Tuesday.

The Aquagirls won their fifth LHC title in six years with 446 points. Indianola was the runner-up for the second straight year with 433 followed by Grinnell/BGM (258) in third and Oskaloosa (130) in fourth.

“What an incredible meet,” NCMP swim coach Sarah Patterson said. “We have not had a meet like this all year so it was incredibly exciting.”

NCMP won the meet despite not scoring any points in diving. Grinnell was 1-2 in diving and Indianola had a 12-0 advantage over the Aquagirls in the event.

Patterson said the host site announced team scores throughout the meet so the Aquagirls knew exactly what they had to do to win. And the third relay win of the night for NCMP locked up another LHC championship.

The Aquagirls were third in the LHC meet last season but won four in a row prior to 2020.

“I am proud of the whole team, but these two relays showed the grit that we train for and talk about on the daily,” Patterson said.

The winning 400-yard freestyle relay team included Hannah Nedder, Peyton Ray, Maggie Garrett and Maylei Ruggles and they finished in 3 minutes, 48.56 seconds.

But it was the third-place team which locked up the conference title. The team of Lauren Zaabel, Paige Benson, Brooke Linahon and Lillie Ray came from behind to do it, too. That foursome finished in 3:57.65. They were 3 seconds faster than Indianola’s second team.

“Lillie came from behind and just crushed that anchor leg,” Patterson said. “Maylei Ruggles gets a huge shout out. She scored big points in swimming best times in both the 100 fly and 100 back.  She also anchored the A 400 freestyle relay. She told the girls — just get me a five-yard lead and I’ll hold on to it. She was absolutely clutch tonight.”

Before the exciting final race, the Aquagirls dominated the other two relays, too.

NCMP’s winning 200 medley relay team included Ruggles, Alexa Heiar, Nedder and Garrett and they finished in 1:56.8. The third-place group of Alex Riney, Grace Benson, Paige Benson and Lillie Ray finished in 2:01.88.

The 200 freestyle relay was won by the foursome of Heiar, Grace Benson, Garrett and Nedder and they finished in 1:43.73. The team of Peyton Ray, Zaabel, Linahon and Lillie Ray were third in 1:48.66.

“It was an amazing meet, and there were so many great swims,” Patterson said. “The girls work hard, and it was fun to see them get this win.”

The other individual winners were Nedder, Heiar and Lillie Ray.

Nedder won the 100 butterfly in 1:00.31 and Ruggles was the runner-up in 1:04.43.

“Hannah Nedder continues to be dominant in both the 100 fly and all of our relays,” Patterson said. “Her lead-off leg in the 400 free relay of 54.8 is her best non-taper time. She is a quiet force on our team.”

In the 100 breaststroke, Heiar won in 1:12.04. Grace Benson finished second in 1:15.99 and Kallie Van Kley took fourth in 1:18.2.

“Alexa Heiar not only won the 100 breaststroke, but threw down a 25.7 lead-off leg in the 200 free relay.  She is  a competitor,” Patterson said. “Grace Benson, Kallie Van Kley, and Estella Allen all swam personal-best 100 breaststroke times as well. Their training and racing in practice is really paying off.”

Lillie Ray won the 50 freestyle in 25.61. Heiar (26.05) was third and Garrett (26.1) hit the wall in fourth.

“Lillie Ray was sick last week and missed almost a week of practice, but won the 50 free and had amazing anchor legs in all three relays,” Patterson said. “When this girl puts her mind to something, there is not much stopping her.”

The Aquagirls put three in the top six in four other events. And they went 3-5 in the 500 freestyle.

Ruggles finished second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05.23. Riney finished third in 1:06.93 and Addison Van Maanen came in fifth in 1:09.77.

Riney was the runner-up in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:29.73. Van Maanen finished third in 2:33.16 and Lauryn Garrett placed sixth in 2:34.98.

NCMP finished 3-4-5 in the 100 freestyle with Peyton Ray (58.76) finishing third, Zaabel (59.72) coming in fourth and Grace Benson (1:00.54) hitting the wall in fifth.

“Lauren Zaabel and Maggie Garrett both had great splits and swims tonight,” Patterson said. “They both went under 1:00 in the 100 free — Maggie for the first time.”

In the 200 freestyle, Zaabel (2:10.17) took third, Peyton Ray (2:11.36) was fourth and Avery Meyer (2:19.91) finished sixth.

Anna DeVries placed third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:12.7 and Meyer was fifth in 6:21.92.