Submitted photo/Bre Drees The Ames swim team celebrates their Senior Night on Thursday in the Dodger pool. All scheduled athletics will stop on Sept. 8 in Ames.

It’s been an emotional year for all the wrong reasons at Ames High School.

On Thursday in the Dodger pool, Fort Dodge did its best to finally give the Little Cyclones a reason to smile.

Head coach Ashley Beaumont’s program surprised its visiting CIML opponent with a “Senior Night” celebration, allowing Ames a few hours of normalcy before its athletics are put on hold in the days to come.

The Little Cyclones defeated FDSH, 131-50. It may be the only meet of the year for Ames, which goes to online classes only beginning next week and will pause all activities accordingly as Story County deals with a high COVID-19 case count.

Before the dual, the homestanding Dodgers let 11 Little Cyclone seniors take center stage on the side of the pool. Fort Dodge displayed an “FD loves Ames” banner, and the Little Cyclone student-athletes were presented flowers and gift bags — following the traditions of typical Senior Night festivities.

“We just wanted to make them feel at home, knowing what they’re going through and what these past few months have been like,” Beaumont said. “Tracy Hartley and I discussed it on Monday night when we found out the meet was being moved (up two weeks), just so that they could get a meet in before (athletics were stopped).

“We have a strong connection with Ames through the (ACAC) club program. If we were in their shoes, we’d want to be treated the same way. So we were trying to figure out a way to make them feel welcome, and also, take their minds off of everything that’s happened.”

Losing a significant portion of their season and dealing with the start-and-stop nature of the novel coronavirus pales in comparison to the true loss the program suffered less than two months ago. Legendary head coach Dan Flannery, who helped lead the Little Cyclones to nine state team championships, died suddenly of a brain aneurysm at the age of 44.

“We know most of those girls and their families, and we felt so bad they’re having to pause their season — on top of losing their coach,” said Hartley, whose daughter, Grace, is a senior captain for the Dodgers. “Also, one of their swimmers lost her dad to cancer a week after Dan died.”

Beaumont “worked with some of the seniors when they were little (through the ACAC program).”

“They all thanked us and talked about how much it meant to them,” Beaumont said. “Being able to compete and doing so at a place I know they all enjoy visiting and respect (the Dodger pool) — it was just an honor to have this meet.”

CIML rules prohibit opposing fans from attending road duals in 2020. FDSH activities director Kevin Astor made an exception for the Ames senior parents on Thursday, reserving a section for them to safely observe and enjoy the festivities.

“Thankfully, we have a lot of room at our facility and could work it out for them,” Beaumont said. “Not all programs have a pool setup like ours, so we were able to safely make it work. And they really didn’t have any idea we were going to host an actual Senior Night for their kids.”

Hartley took second in the 200 individual medley (2:18.09), as did freshmen Raegan Wooldrige in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.54) and Becca Kenville in the 100 backstroke (1:20.73). Sophomore Eileen Fierke was third in the 200 freestyle relay (2:02.37), and Hartley placed third in the 500 freestyle (5:38.34).

The 400 free relay quartet of Claire Kienzle, Rachel Moody, Makenna Kammerer and Wooldridge was a silver medalist in 4:25.10, and the 200 medley relay of Fierke, Hartley, Wooldridge and Rylie Steinkamp just missed a runner-up showing (1:57.58).

“Grace did a terrific job in the 200 IM, which is her main event,” Beaumont said. “She’s so confident there. Eileen looked really good in the 100 and 200 free. And I’m extremely proud of Wooldridge. She has a lot of talent and a very high ceiling.

“Our medley relay looked awesome, given we’re in a period of transition after losing Madigan (Peimann) and Elora (Fierke) to graduation.”

Annie Galvin (200 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Meghan Donald (200 individual medley and 100 backstroke), and Sophie McCorkle (50 and 100 freestyle) were double winners for Ames.

Fort Dodge is next in action on Tuesday at home against Southeast Polk. The Dodgers will then host their Senior Night on Thursday, when they take on Algona.