Aquagirls advance six to state swim meet

By Daily News Staff

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JOHNSTON — Despite several ill swimmers over the last couple of weeks, the Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella swim team managed to turn in some personal- and season-best times Saturday at the regional meet at Summit Middle School in Johnston.

And some of those times were good enough to qualify for the state meet this Saturday in Marshalltown.

Six NCMP swimmers in all advanced to the state meet as the Aquagirls captured berths in all three relays and three other individual events.

“I think we had a great regional meet, and I loved how competitive our girls were,” NCMP coach Sarah Patterson said. “We’re excited to take the Aquagirl tradition to the state meet.”

Sophomores Ellen Colville and Taylor Quayle both qualified in individual events and had the best qualifying days of the group as Colville will swim in four events at state, while Quayle advanced in three. Junior Stephanie Griffith also is a part of all three relay teams.

Also advancing to the state meet in multiple events is sophomore Courtney Meyer and senior Michelle Rabedeaux. Junior Lindsey Hook also will be a part of the 200-meter freestyle relay team.

Colville will look to get on the stand Saturday in the 500 freestyle and 200 Individual Medley. She bested her own school records in both events at regional meet, took home the title in the 500 freestyle and easily qualified for state in both events.

“Ellen continues to have a great season,” Patterson said. “With some precision training at the beginning of the week, and a little more rest at the end of the week, I think she can go even faster.”

Patterson said Colville won the 500 freestyle with a school-record time of 5:15.21 and was about six seconds ahead of second place.

“I am looking forward to the state meet where she’ll have people to race the entire event,” Patterson added.

The other individual qualifier was Quayle, who placed sixth in the 50 freestyle but was fast enough to advance. Quayle finished in 25.36, which was well under the qualifying time.

“What a fantastic season (Quayle) has had,” Patterson said. “She was so excited to swim on Saturday and it showed with her performance. I’ve seen a lot of people swim in my lifetime, and I think we’ve only seen the beginning of what she is going to be able to accomplish.”

The other state-qualifying events came in relays as NCMP will compete in all three in Marshalltown on Saturday.

The 200 medley relay team is made of up Meyer, Rabedeaux, Griffith and Quayle. This foursome dropped two seconds off their season-best time and placed third overall.

The 200 freestyle relay foursome includes Quayle, Hook, Griffith and Colville, while the 400 freestyle team is made up of Colville, Rabedeaux, Griffith and Meyer.

Several other swimmers performed well despite not advancing to state.

While Rabedeaux made it to state in two relays, the senior also claimed podium finishes in both of her individual events. She claimed either a season or personal best time in both the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

“Michelle was a huge contributor Saturday as she has been over her entire career with the Aquagirls,” Patterson said. “I just knew was prepared to take that relay challenge on.”

Hook broke the one minute barrier in the 100 freestlye, while Meyer swam a lifetime best and made the podium in the 100 backstroke.Also claiming a podium finish was sophomore Hannah Long, who dropped six seconds from her previous best time in the 200 freestyle and placed sixth.

Three seniors had good meets Saturday but did not qualify for state.

Senior Becky Miller swam a personal-best time in the 100 butterfly, senior Sally Campbell completed a personal-best time in the 50 freestlye and senior Kayla Piskula placed eighth in the 100 breaststroke and ended her career with a personal-best time.

“Becky Miller made me cry,” Patterson said. “She has worked hard at every single practice every single day for four years, and when she went that personal best time, I teared up. She also gave a team speech before the meet started. Watching the seniors assume leadership roles is one of my favorite parts of coaching.

“Sally Campbell had an excellent swim,” Patterson said. “She swam a perfect race and breathed only once on the way down. Kayla is a natural talent but getting down to 1:16 shows her determination and desire to do well. I was very proud of her swim.”

Three other swimmers who had solid regional meets for NCMP were junior Morgan Daniels and freshmen Kora Scotton and Sidney Griffith.

Daniels, one of the swimmers hit hardest by the flu in the past couple of weeks, notched a career-best time of 1:06.61 in the 100 backstroke. Sidney Griffith scored her best time in the 500 freestyle by about five seconds, while Scotton went 1:00.8 in the 100 freestyle, which also was a personal-best time.

The diving portion of the regional meet took place Thursday and two NCMP divers competed. Freshman Lea Mikkelson placed seventh overall and missed qualifying for state by just eight points. Also diving in her first regional meet was freshman Lexie Cupples, who placed 12th.

“Both girls were a lot of fun this year and have a lot of talent,” Patterson said. “The future of NCMP diving looks great.”

The state swim meet will take place at noon Saturday at the Marshalltown YMCA.