White’s school-record performance highlights NCMP’s win over Oskaloosa

Swimmers from the Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella squad don’t get more than a few chances to set school records in a meter pool each season.

Typically, the only place the Aquagirls can compete for those marks are in their home meets. And with one opportunity already gone, Tori White knew she was running out of time.

But after coming up a few hundreds of a second short at the end of last season, White can now stake her claim to the 100-meter backstroke record after another strong performance in the event against Oskaloosa on Tuesday night.

“I’m so happy. I wanted it gone since last year,” White said. “The last home meet last season I went 1:10 but was a little short. So it sucked being that close. This year, I just knew I would get it at some point.”

That was just one of NCMP’s 11 wins as the Aquagirls dominated the Indians 137-29 on a night that was dedicated to Casie Riney, who passed away about a year ago from Pulmonary hypertension.

Several fans in attendance wore purple in recognition of Riney, whose daughter is senior Alex Riney.

“It was really special. I’m glad we were able to do something in her memory,” Alex Riney said. “Coach Nick had the idea and then all the girls started sharing it to their snapchat stories to draw attention to it. It was just a special night.”

NCMP had no trouble in the pool against Oskaloosa. The Aquagirls improved to 9-1 after finishing 1-2-3 in eight events and 1-2 in the other three. The junior varsity also downed the Indians 74-5.

Harper Barton continued her strong season with four more wins. White, Riney, Addison Van Maanen and Peyton Ray all were part of three victories and grabbed a runner-up finish.

Barton won a pair of individual events, but White’s lone individual win was a record-breaking performance.

White won the 100 backstroke in 1 minute, 10.35 seconds, which was .09 seconds faster than what Ellen Colville swam to set the record back in 2011.

Hailey Dickerson was the runner-up in 1:19.87 and was one of the first to congratulate White after she exited the pool.

“She works really hard and really wanted it,” NCMP head girls swim coach Nick Shelton said. “She wanted it last year but came up just short. I knew she was going to get it this year, and I’m glad it happened today so she’s not thinking about it. I’m really proud of her.”

Barton’s wins came in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. She won the 100 freestyle in 1:01.91 and hit the wall first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:17.78.

“I haven’t swam the breaststroke much in a yard pool yet,” Barton said. “But I feel stronger in general this year. I’m pulling more water than last year.”

NCMP was 1-2-3 in the events. Ray (1:03.26) and Temple Barton (1:06.58) were 2-3 in the 100 freestyle and Van Maanen (1:23.48) and Anna DeVries (1:28.57) finished 2-3 in the 100 breaststroke.

Harper Barton came into the season with a bit more motivation after falling short of her goals last fall. She also spent a majority of the offseason training with swimmers from the boys’ team.

“I think failing is just another reason to get up and try harder,” Harper Barton said. “I learned from that mistake last year, and I don’t want to feel that again. So I’m doing everything I can to exceed my expectations, get to where I want to be and have no regrets at the end of the season.”

Riney, Ray, Van Maanen, Izzy Lane and Avery Meyer all won individual events, too.

Meyer highlighted NCMP’s 1-2-3 finish in the 400 freestyle. She won the race in 5:31.18. Emalee Weuve (5:43.04) and Haylee White (6:17.98) were next to the wall.

The Aquagirls also went 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

Ray won the 200 freestyle in 2:19.51. She was followed by Temple Barton in 2:24.11 and Peyton Phillips in 2:41.01.

Riney’s favorite event continues to be the 50 freestyle. She grabbed another win on Tuesday in 29.46 seconds. Paige Benson (30.29) was second and Meyer (32.59) finished third.

“I missed the first few weeks of the season after I got my wisdom teeth out so I’m a little behind,” Riney said. “But I feel like I’m catching back up. It will take some time, but we’ll get there.”

Van Maanen got her victory in the 200 individual medley. She pulled away from Tori White during the breaststroke leg and won the race in 2:39.24. White was second in 2:50.82 and Alexa Van Maanen (2:59.81) finished third.

Lane won the 100 butterfly in 1:13.88. Julia Nedder (1:19.21) and Benson (1:19.24) were separated by only .03 seconds as Nedder rallied in the final few meters to take second.

NCMP was 1-2-3 in the 200 medley relay and 1-2 in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Tori White, Van Maanen, Benson and Riney won the 200 medley relay in 2:12.19. Dickerson, DeVries, Lane and Temple Barton finished second in 2:18.36 and the foursome of Weuve, Kimberlee Miller, Nedder and Meyer took third in 2:23.39.

The Aquagirls are currently ranked in the top 11 in the state in all three relays. The 200 freestyle was the squad’s best relay last season and is expected to fare well later this year, too.

Riney, Ray, Harper Barton and Lane scored a win on Tuesday in 1:57.49 and DeVries, Benson, Miller and Dickerson took second in 2:05.24.

In the final event of the night, the foursome of Tori White, Ray, Harper Barton and Addison Van Maanen won the race in 4:19.34. The group of Dickerson, Lane, Temple Barton and Riney finished second in 4:48.59.

“I love our relays,” Harper Barton said. “All of our times are just so similar. When we figure out who will be on what relay and the order, I think we can be really good.”

Shelton said the coaching staff hasn’t quite figured out who will be on what relay yet. But he does figure the six or seven girls who will be on those three relays have been determined.

“I’m most excited about the 200 freestyle relay,” Riney said. “That was our best relay last year, and we have everyone back. If we work on the little things, I think we can be top 10 at state for sure.”

Notes: Colville still owns the 500-meter freestyle school record and both 200 IM records. … Shelton said he discussed a “Casie Riney night” with the parent committee before the season. “We didn’t want to do it on Senior Night, and we didn’t have very many home meets so this one was perfect to have in her honor,” Shelton said. … Tori White said she went into the meet with a lot of confidence in the backstroke after posting a season-best time in a yard pool at Ankeny last week. “At Ankeny, I went 1:02. I hadn’t gone that fast since last year,” Tori White said. “I just wanted to swim it like I did there but a little faster. My first 25 felt super smooth. I could hear the crowd and Coach Nick on the last lap. And I don’t usually hear him so I knew it was close.” … Veronica Mark (200 freestyle), Weuve (50 freestyle), Phillips (100 freestyle) and Miller (100 breaststroke) all won individual JV events. Mark also was on two winning JV relay teams.