MARION — The Fort Dodge girls swim team competed for the first time ever in the ultra-competitive Linn-Mar Invitational on Saturday.

The Dodgers finished eighth with 102 points.

Ames (564) was the team champion, followed by Dowling (434.5), Bettendorf (303), Pleasant Valley (218) and Cedar Falls (170).

“In a meet like this against tough competition, we aren’t looking for firsts and seconds, but how we stack up against the state’s best,” said FDSH head coach Ashley Beaumont. “We’re looking at what they can do against the best — if they’re rising up to the challenge and being comeptitive.”

Fort Dodge’s best finish, came in the 400 freestyle relay, where Grace Hartley, Madigan Peimann, Elora Fierke and Luanne Xiao placed sixth in a time of 3:46.33.

Hartley finished seventh in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:26.27. Peimann was seventh in the 100 freestyle (55.64).

Xiao (1:00.14) was eighth in the 100 backstroke.

“Luanne had a state qualifying time in the 100 back,” Beaumont said. Madigan just missed state qualifying in the 50 and 100 freestyle.”

Fort Dodge will be off this week before hosting the Gary Winkler Invitational next Saturday.

“We are going to taper for this meet,” Beaumont said. “I want our girls rested so they can compete. Dowling and Cedar Falls will be there, so I want them ready.”