Dodger swimmers defeat Riverhawks
Ashley Beaumont challenged her Fort Dodge girls swim team on Tuesday night.
The Dodgers were competing against a familiar foe, taking on Mason City in the FDSH pool.
During the ultra-competitive Linn-Mar Invitational a little over a week ago, the Dodgers lost to the Riverhawks by one point. Beaumont wanted her squad to remember and use that as a goal to come out on the winning end Tuesday in a dual rematch.
The Dodgers prevailed in six events and ultimately defeated Mason City by a final of 98-79.
“It’s awesome to win, especially against a conference opponent,” Beaumont said. “They got us by a point at Linn-Mar, which was an important reminder.
“I wanted to motivate the girls to get that final touch and remember that every point counts.”
Hailey Vogel was a double winner for the Dodgers, finishing first in the 50 freestyle (25.64) and the 100 freestyle (57.75). In the 50 freestyle, Vogel topped Mallory Cook (28:02). She then topped Cook (1:00.32) by more than three seconds in the 100 freestyle.
“Hailey swam well,” Beaumont said. “She didn’t have a ton of competition, but it was fun for her to go out and get a nice easy victory.”
Julia Eastman of Southeast Valley was the 200 individual medley champion for FDSH in 2:20.77. Eastman beat Mason City’s Lauryn Halverson to the wall in 2:31.30.
Raegan Wooldridge of Manson Northwest Webster (1:13.73) won the 100 breaststroke in a tight finish for the Dodgers. Halverson touched the wall in 1:14.25.
Delaney O’Connor had 161.30 points to win the diving competition.
The 200 medley relay team of Eastman, Wooldridge, Gracie Harvey and Vogel finished in 1:59.10 to prevail. The Dodgers were more than 20 seconds faster than Mason City (2:20.10).
The 200 freestyle relay quartet of Eastman, Harvey, Kylen Lubensky and Vogel placed second in 1:50.58.
The quartet of Lubensky, O’Connor, Addison Daniel and Rachel Moody earned runner-up status in 4:19.99.
Wooldridge and Eastman added second-place showings to their gold performances. Wooldridge bested the six minute mark in the 500 freestyle (5:55.58), and Eastman was second in the 100 backstroke (1:04.44).
“Raegan was amazing in the 500 freestyle,” Beaumont said. “Cole (Aspen of Mason City) is a multi-time state qualifier.”
Daniel (2:13.26 in the 200 freestyle) and Harvey (1:07.13 in the 100 butterfly) secured silver as well.
The Dodgers are back in action on Thursday when they host Algona and Perry in the FDSH pool.