-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Girls Swimming Returning Letterwinners are, left to right, Front Row: Marla Elizondo, Morgan Border, Grace Hartley Back Row: Elora Fierke, Rylie Steinkamp, Kat Flores, Madigan Peimann Missing: Emma Johnston, Clare Kienzie

Another offseason of rigorous training and preparation gives way to team competition on Tuesday, as Fort Dodge dives head-first into its girls swim season with a road meet against eight-time defending champion Ames.

The Dodgers welcome four state qualifiers back to their lineup in 2019. Senior team captains Madigan Peimann and Elora Fierke return, alongside school record-holder Grace Hartley, a junior.

“We’re looking forward to getting out and competing again,” FDSH head coach Ashley Beaumont said. “We had so many girls who dedicated their summer to preparing, reporting at 6 a.m. every day for (ACAC) practice.

“We’re already looking stronger at the start of this season in a lot of events than we were at the end of last year, which has kind of become the goal for our program (in terms of progression). It’s an exciting time for us.”

Peimann and Fierke have both been in the varsity lineup since their respective freshman seasons. Peimann was a regional champion last fall in the 200 freestyle, and a 100 freestyle runner-up. Fierke was second at regionals in the 200 individual medley, and also advanced to state in the breaststroke.

Hartley broke both the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley school records — previously held by her older sister, University of Iowa swimmer Taylor Hartley — at state in Marshalltown last fall. She advanced to the finals out of the preliminary rounds and placed eighth at state in the 500.

Peimann, Fierke and Hartley were on the state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay, while Peimann, Hartley and junior Rylie Steinkamp advanced in the 400 free relay.

“We have a strong base of experienced swimmers,” Beaumont said. “But we’re still trying to build depth. Our numbers are down a little from a year ago overall, but the girls we have are committed to themselves and each other.

“We can’t wait to see where we’re at come late October and into November.”

Senior Morgan Border, junior Clair Kienzle, senior Kat Flores, and sophomores Emma Johnston and Marla Elizondo are the other FDSH returning letterwinners. Border and Kienzle have been varsity swimmers since their respective freshman years and “will again be important pieces to the puzzle.”

Beaumont noted that freshman Eileen Fierke — Elora’s younger sister and a sibling to University of Iowa team member Andrew Fierke — should be able to immediately contribute. She also gave a nod to first team all-state softball player Jalen Adams, who decided to try swimming competitively this fall.

“Eileen is very talented,” Beaumont said. “She has competed in state and national-level events for years now, so she’ll be ready.

“Jalen is a pure, natural athlete, and it’s great to see her out. At a school where we emphasize the importance of sharing kids and pushing for athletes to try different things and diversify, it will hopefully send a message that swimming is a fun, competitive sport to try.”

Beaumont will be assisted by Hannah Munson.

The Dodgers’ first home meet is next Tuesday against Marshalltown. The Gary Winkler FDSH Invitational is set for Sept. 21.

ROSTER

Seniors — Madigan Peimann, Elora Fierke, Morgan Border, Kat Flores, Kosett Burmiester.

Juniors — Grace Hartley, Rylie Steinkamp, Claire Kienzle.

Sophomores — Marla Elizondo, Emma Johnston, Jalen Adams, Olivia Andersen, Anna Marxen, Isabelle Berger.

Freshmen — Eileen Fierke, Emily Dawson, Makenna Kammerer, Hope Miller, Dylan Saathoff, Lilian Shin.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 — at Ames; 10 — Marshalltown; 12 — Algona; 21 — Gary Winkler FDSH Invitational; 24 — at Waukee; 26 — Algona and Perry.

Oct. 1 — at Southeast Polk; 8 — at West Des Moines Valley; 10 — at Carroll; 15 — Mason City; 24 — CIML Iowa Conference meet in Marshalltown.

Nov. 2 — regional meet; 8-9 — state meet in Marshalltown.