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Dodger swim team sends 10 events to state

—Photo by Kent Keith Fort Dodge’s Grace Hartley competes in the 500 freestyle at the regional swim in the Dodger Pool on Saturday.

After a season of working hard and dreaming big, everything came into focus for Luanne Xiao and the Fort Dodge girls swim program on Saturday.

Xiao set two school records and captured one of three regional championships as the Dodgers advanced 10 events to the state meet from their own pool on Saturday.

A junior at St. Edmond High School, Xiao took silver in the 100-yard backstroke in an FDSH all-time record 58.32 — the ninth-best state qualifying mark in the event. Xiao also captured the 50 freestyle regional crown — an event relatively new to her repertoire — in 24.82, which is also a new record.

“The team goal this year was to qualify as many events as we could, and we qualified in 10 events, which is way more than (last) year,” Xiao said. “The whole team was super supportive of each other, and it was just great having everyone there cheering you on.

“After I got the (100 backstroke) record, I was just ecstatic. I’ve been trying to get that record for a long time now, so it just felt really great to have finally gotten it.”

Kate Keith (58.50 in 2016) previously held the Dodger mark in the event.

Ashley Beaumont, who was recognized alongside assistant Kassi Messerly as the regional coaching staff of the year, lauded Xiao’s versatility both in her individual efforts and as a member of the state-qualifying 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

“Luanne had a great day,” Beaumont said. “Up until recently, the 50 (freestyle) wasn’t even really on her radar, but she wanted to give it a shot and now she has the record (last set by Gretta Leigh in 2016 at 24.86). And her times in the 100 back and the two relays were really good, though I do think she’s going to be even better and faster next weekend.

“We were using this week to prepare for (this Saturday at Marshalltown). The girls all did a terrific job (at regionals), but they aren’t quite where they want to be. There is room for improvement, and that will come at state.”

Classmate Madigan Peimann was the 200 freestyle champ in 1:59.86, while taking runner-up honors in the 100 freestyle (55.00). Sophomore Grace Hartley earned a regional title in the 500 freestyle (5:15.36), and grabbed bronze in the 200 individual medley (2:15.83). All four efforts made the state cut.

Junior Elora Fierke’s 200 individual medley silver-medal time of 2:14.32 advanced her to state as well, along with her 1:10.57 in the 100 breaststroke.

The Dodgers’ 400 freestyle relay time of 3:41.06 flirted with the program record and will have them tentatively seeded just outside of the Top-10 this Saturday. Peimann, Hartley, Fierke and Xiao joined together to move FDSH on to Marshalltown.

The quartet of Peimann, Hartley, Xiao and sophomore Rylie Steinkamp clocked a 1:41.92 in the 200 free relay, which also clinched a state spot.

“Things didn’t go exactly as planned, but pretty close,” Beaumont said. “We’re showing improvement daily. To be only a second off of the (FDSH) 200 free relay mark and two seconds back of the 400 (free relay) … I think we’re in for a special state meet.”

The Dodgers’ program record for state qualifiers was 11, set by the 2016 squad. Fort Dodge had five events at state last year.

There are 32 qualifiers in each state event this season — eight more than in the past.

The Dodgers were fourth in the team race with 272 points. Waukee (483 points) was the winner, followed by Des Moines Lincoln (437), Sioux City Metro (275), FDSH and Mason City (257).

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