Local youngsters swim for Northeastern Swim Team at Iowa Championships
Local swimmers competing for Northeastern Swim Team ... Left to right - Front row: Anna Knaack, Elizabeth Bucksa, Dawson Irons, Dane Burns, Carson Hager, Weston Cote, Ian Giddings, Gareth Vobr; Middle row: Katerina Kovarik, Avalea Burns, Sydney Thompson, Jaylee Vobr, Dominic Bigalk, Simon Kutz, Gus Grimstad, Jackson Penny; Back row: Margaret Rhodes, Maeley Nefzger, Joey Vobr, Max Maitlin, Cale LaFrentz, Drew Chamberlain, Gareth Sweet, Cole Huebner Coach Mike. Photo by Heather Cote.
Northeastern Swim Team (NST) age group swimmers completed in the 2020 Iowa Swimming Age Group Championship Meet in Des Moines held February 20-23. Registration will soon be available for the NST Long Course and Spring season on the team’s website (NortheasternSwimTeam.com) and practices will resume in April.
In the 10 and under age group in Des Moines, the Boys 10 & Under 200 Free Relay team of Weston Cote, Garret Vobr, Bentley Hager and Dane Roberts swam to a third-place finish and a place on the podium. The Boys 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay of Dawson Irons, Bentley Hager, Dane Burns and Weston Cote also earned a fifth-place finish.
In their individual events, Weston Cote dropped four seconds in the 200 Yard Freestyle and earned eighth place. He also placed ninth in the 50 Yard Freestyle and 50 Yard Fly, 10th in the 100 Yard Back and 50 Yard Breast, 11th in the 100 Yard Breast and 12th in the 100 Yard Individual Medley and 50 Yard Back.
Dane Burns placed eighth in the 50 Yard Fly and 100 Yard Free. He also placed ninth in the 100 Yard Fly and 11th in the 50 Yard Free.
Garrett Vobr dropped over 12 seconds off his time to place eighth in the 500 Yard Free. He also placed 10th in the 50 Yard Fly and swam the 200 Yard Free and 100 Yard Fly.
Dawson Irons swam to an eighth-place finish in the 50 Yard Back and dropped time in the 50 Yard Fly and 50 Yard Breast. Bentley Hager also improved his time in the 50 Yard and 100 Yard Breast during the 10 and Under finals.
In the 10 and Under girls competition for NST, Elisabeth Bucksa dropped time in all her races and swam a 1:13.49 to earn third place in the 100 Yard Individual Medley. Anna Knaack cut 23 seconds from her time and swam a 6:37.21 to earn fourth place in the 500 Yard Free.
Busksa also placed fourth in the 100 Yard and 200 Yard Free, fifth in the 50 Yard Free, sixth in the 100 Yard Back and 200 Yard Individual Medley and 11th in the 100 Yard Fly. Knaack placed sixth in the 50 Yard Breast, ninth in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, 10th in the 50 Yard Free and 200 Yard Free, 11th in the 100 Yard Free and 100 Yard Individual Medley, and 14th in the 100 Yard Back.
In the 11-12 age group, NST also had many swimmers drop time and earn top places. Jaylee Vobr led the NST girls, dropping seven seconds to place fourth in the 200 Yard Fly with a time of 2:27.66. Vobr also placed sixth in the 50 Yard Fly and 400 Individual Medley, seventh in the 100 Yard Fly and 200 Yard Medley, eighth in the 1000 Yard Free and 14th in the 100 Yard Medley.
Avalea Burns dropped 10 seconds in the 200 Yard Breast and earned fifth place. She also placed seventh in the 100 Yard Breast and swam in the 50 Breast.
Sydney Thompson dropped time in the 50 Yard Back and placed 12th with a time of 32.44 Vobr, Burns and Thompson combined with Lauren Luzum to swim in two relays during the meet. Both the 200 Medley and 400 Free Relays placed 10th.
Ian Giddings also swam personal best times in both of his 11-12 age group events, the Boys 50 Yard Free and 50 Yard Fly.
In the 13-14 age group, Katerina Kovarik swam well in the long-distance races, placing ninth in the 1650 Yard Free, 10th in the 1000 Yard Free and 12th in the 500 Yard Free. She also swam in the 200 Yard Medley, 100 Yard Breast, 400 Yard Medley and 200 Yard Breast.
Max Maitland placed 14th in the 100 Yard Breast, 16th in the 200 Yard Breast and also swam the 200 Individual Medley. Dominic Bigalk placed 15th in the 1650 Yard Free and also swam in the 1000 Yard Free.
Gareth Sweet swam a personal best in the 100 Yard Fly. Joey Vobr competed in the 1000 Yard and 1650 Yard Free. Simon Kutz swam well in the 400 IM and Maeley Nefzger also swam well in the 50 Yard Free. Bigalk, Maitland, Sweet and Kuntz teamed up to compete in the Boy 13-14 400 Medley Relay and placed 14th.
