Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Madigan Peimann of Fort Dodge swims earlier in the season at the Dodger Pool.

The Fort Dodge girls swim team found itself in a difficult position on Tuesday night against West Des Moines Valley.

Sandwiched between a recent stretch of success and the preparation for the postseason, the Dodgers dove head-first into a CIML Iowa Conference dual against the Tigers.

Despite holding their own with five indiviual gold-medal performances, FDSH simply didn’t have the depth to keep up with Valley in a 115-71 setback.

“This was a tough one for us,” Dodger head coach Ashley Beaumont said. “We still competed and had great times, but we’ve been putting in hard practices and (the conference meet) is two weeks away.

“We’ll get a little rest now and catch our second wind down the stretch. Against programs like Valley, numbers play such a huge role. Our (depth) is coming, but we’re not at that level yet year in and year out.”

Juniors Luanne Xiao and Madigan Peimann were double winners for Fort Dodge. Xiao took both the 200 freestyle (2:04.37) and the 100 backstroke (1:04.83). Peimann captured the 50 freestyle (25.90) and the 100 freestyle (55.76).

Sophomore Grace Hartley (200 individual medley, 2:18.74) was the other champ.

The Tigers swept the relay events, however, and used a number of silver and bronze performances to pull away.

“Luanne, Madigan, Grace and Elora (Fierke) all did a great job, but we also saw some great times from other varsity members and junior varsity swimmers,” Beaumont said. “Emily Asay and Emma Johnston did really well. Olivia Anderson won two JV races (the 100 and 200 freestyle). And Maddy Major (earned her first JV victory in the 100 backstroke), which was encouraging.

“It’s great to see the underclassmen improving at this point in the season.”

Fort Dodge’s 200 medley relay quartet of Rylie Steinkamp, Morgan Border, Hartley and Fierke (1:58.31) was second, and Steinkamp grabbed silver in the 100 butterfly (1:05.95). Hartley was a runner-up in the 500 freestyle (5:30.04).

The 200 freestyle (Peimann, Steinkamp, Border, Xiao, 1:46.41) and 400 freestyle (Xiao, Fierke, Hartley, Peimann, 3:49.43) relays were second as well.

The Dodgers have a home triangular against Carroll and Spencer this Thursday, and a dual at Mason City on Tuesday. The CIML Iowa meet is Thursday, Oct. 18, at Southeast Polk.