-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Julie Eastman of Fort Dodge compete in the girls 200 yard Medley Relay during Gary Winkler Invitational on Saturday inside Dodgers pool

The last invitational the Fort Dodge swim team competed in was about times and getting faster.

On Saturday it was about swimming in front of friends and family and getting on the podium.

The Dodger girls finished second at the Gary Winkler Invitational, compiling 461 team points. Sioux City Metro (501) was the team champion. Spencer (400) was third, followed by Carroll (360) and Algona (222).

“It was wonderful to have so many fans and parents,” said Fort Dodge head coach Ashley Beaumont. “It was a big crowd and we had so many people cheering the girls on.”

The Dodgers captured three titles. Julia Eastman was a double and was also part of the winning 200 medley relay.

The Dodgers had 16 podium finishes with top-six performances.

“When we swam at Linn-Mar it was against some good teams and getting good times,” Beaumont said. “This was about having the girls figuring out where they would be best at and getting some podium spots.”

Eastman earned a PR in both the 200 IM (2:16.68) and the. She was nearly two seconds faster than Emmay Myers (2:18.55) of Carroll in the IM.

Eastman’s time of 1:03.24 in the 100 butterfly was just ahead of teammate Harvey (1:06.08).

“Julia swam really well,” Beaumont said. “She got a chance to swim against Emma Myers of Carroll, who is tough. When you have somebody to swim against it is helpful to cut your time.”

Eastman swam the first leg of the 200 medley, followed by Raegan Wooldridge, Gracie Harvey and Hailey Vogel. The Dodgers touched the wall in 1:57.35.

“They swam awesome (200 medley relay),” Beaumont said. “They were not seeded first and this gives them great confidence. We have a mix of upper and underclassmen on this relay so it was great to see them come out on top.”

Vogel was tipped at the wall in the 50 freestyle, finishing second. Vogel finished in 25.76, while Spencer’s Brooklyn Ferguson (25.25) was the winner.

Vogel was also second in the 100 freestyle. She touched the wall in 56.42. Addison Oelke (55.13) of Sioux City Metro was the winner.

Delaney O’Connor was second in diving with 293.60 points. Reese Taylor of Algona (435) was the champion.

Finishing third for the Dodgers were Addison Daniel 200 freestyle (2:14.10), Harvey (2:29.56 in 200 IM), Wooldridge (6:02.27 in the 500 freestyle). Wooldridge was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.69).

The quartet of Vogel, Harvey, Kylen Lubensky and Eastman were fourth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:47.24).Lubensky, Daniel, Rachel Moody and O’Connor placed fourth in the 400 freestyle.

“Being able to get a lot of girls in the pool in your own pool is great,” Beaumont said. “And it wasn’t just about that, the girls swam really well and turned in some good times.”

The Dodgers are back in action on Tuesday when they host Mason City in the Dodger pool.