The 2010 Iowa Girls High School regional swimming and diving competition began yesterday at CR Jefferson. Senior diver Liz Hayes accomplished what few Cougar athletes have done by qualifying for State for the fourth consecutive year. Her season best score of 348.10 placed her fourth last night in a talent rich regional diving meet. Fellow teammates senior Amy Hanson and freshman Tori Spaulding placed in the top ten with lifetime best performances moving the Cougars into 2nd place in the team race. The swimmers take center stage Saturday at noon as they compete against IC West, LinMar,CR Wash, CR Jeff, CR Xavier, CR Prairie, Clinton and Tipton. Go Cougs!
If you didn’t make it over to the natatorium at CR Jefferson Saturday, you missed an exciting conclusion to this year’s Regional swimming and diving championships. The Cougars continued their dominance in the 200 medley relay by smashing the 7 year old pool record and capturing gold in the first event of the day. The foursome of Carmen McCoy, Amanda Jacobsen, Lexi Scharmer and Kylee VonAhsen will be seeded 9th at this weekend’s state swimming and diving meet in Marshalltown and gave loyal Cougar fans in the stands an electrifying start to the day. The Cougars also captured gold in the 50 free where senior Kylee VonAhsen swam a lifetime best 24.98 and is seeded 4th this coming Saturday. She also will be swimming in the 100 free as well as Carmen in the 200 IM and 100 back and Lexi in the 100 butterfly. Both freestyle relays had outstanding performances on Saturday and will be swimming at this year’s state meet. Team members include Val Ross, Jordan Muir, Jess Schmeiser and Hannah Botkin. Come join the Cougar cheering section this Friday at 5:00 PM as Liz Hayes competes in diving at the Marshalltown YMCA and is followed Saturday at noon by our swimmers at the 2010 Iowa Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships.
The women’s swimming and diving team competed this weekend at the MVC varsity championships in Cedar Falls and brought home their 5th straight title. The Cougars used strong individual performances to earn top 6 finishes in 6 events and team depth to score points in every event. Cougar relays brought home bronze medals in all three events. Stepping on to the podium were Lexi Scharmer, 2nd in the 100 fly, Kylee Von Ahsen, finishing 4th in both the 50 and 100 free, Carmen McCoy, 4th in the 100 back, Jess Schmeiser, 6th in the 200 free and Amanda Jacobsen, 6th in the 100 breaststroke. The coaching staff led by assistants Rick Forrester, Leslie Nelson, Holly Broadwater and Katie McKinnon also earned honors by being voted MVC coaching staff of the year. Congratulations to all, well done!!!
The women’s swimming and diving team continued their dominance over cross-town rival CR Washington last night with a convincing 123 to 63 victory. The Warrior’s senior night was dampened by the visiting Cougars by winning for the 5th straight year in their annual head to head battle. The Cougs superior team depth was witnessed by their one two finishes in all three relays, a feat never before recorded in the storied history between the two schools. Individual event winners were senior Carmen McCoy in both the 200 free and 100 back, senior Kylee VonAhsen in the 200 IM, senior Val Ross in the 50 free and sophomore Jess Schmeiser in the 100 free. The JV squad continued their perfect season in similar fashion with a convincing 110 to 58 victory. Event winners included freshman Ally Ballinger, junior Lauren Vito, freshman Michele Wasta, senior Amanda Brause, sophomore Kerry Brousard and sophomore Brooke Heaton.
The Cougar varsity squad swims this Saturday in Cedar Falls at the Marcussen Invite. Diving starts at 9:00 AM followed by the swimmers at 1:00 PM. Congratulation Cougars!!
After a month of competing on the road, the women’s swimming and diving team finally returned home last night to face the 6th ranked Cedar Falls Tigers. In a “ David “ like effort the Cougars battled to the very last event but fell 95 to 91 to the perennial state swimming “Goliathans “. The Varsity squad managed to win only three events, Carman McCoy in the 200 IM, Liz Hayes in the 1 meter springboard and the quartet of Jess Schmeiser, Lexi Scharmer, Carmen McCoy and Kylee VonAhsen in the 400 free relay. Coach Rick Forrester’s JV squad remained undefeated, dominating the Tigers 139 to 31. Event winners were Lauren Vito in the 200 and 500 free, Sarah Sickles in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Sydney Hofferber in the 50 free, Cassidy McDowell in the 1 meter springboard, Michele Wasta in the 100 butterfly, Amanda Brause in the 100 free and Tanner Rathjens in the 100 back.
The Cougars are host to 10 teams from around the state this weekend in the 10th annual Cougar Invitational. Diving competition begins at 9:00 AM followed by the swimming competition at 1:00 PM.
The women’s swimming and diving team competed last night in a double dual meet last at the Coe College Natatorium against the Tigers from Tipton and the 8th ranked Lions from Linn-Mar. The Cougars handed Tipton a 146 to 33 setback but suffered their first defeat of the year 109 – 77 to a talented squad from Linn-Mar. The Cougars started the night with an exciting victory in the 200 medley relay, swimming the 5th fastest time in state, a 1:55.30.
Individual winners last night were Carmen McCoy in the 200 IM and Lexi Scharmer in the 100 butterfly. The JV squad continued their perfect season defeating Linn-Mar 106 to 69 and Tipton 139 to 8. Individual event winners for the JV were Tali Drahn in the 100 free, Lauren Vito in the 500 free and Katie Ferguson in the 100 back.
The varsity’s next meet is this Saturday in Iowa City at the Mercer aquatics center where they will swim and dive against 3 out of the top 5 teams in the state at the City High Invite. The Cougar JV travel cross town to compete in the J-Hawk relays at Jefferson High School.
Tuesday, September 7th, another dual meet victory in hand. The 11th ranked and undefeated Cougar’s Women’s swimming and diving team traveled to Iowa City last night and dunked the Little Hawks 137- 48. Winning all but one event, the Cougars dominated from the start going 1 – 2 in the 200 medley relay and 1 -2 -3 in the 200 freestyle. Jr Lexi Scharmer led the way, winning both the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. Other event winners included Kylee VonAhsen in the 200 free, Liz Hayes on the one meter springboard, Carmen McCoy in the 100 free, Lindsay Meade in the 500 free and super sophomores Henna “Rosey” McCoy in the 100 back and Sydney Hofferber in the 100 breaststroke. Not to be outdone the JV improved to 4 and 0 with a 114 to 53 victory.
The Cougars have added two new members to the elite “ Sub Club “ this year already with freshman Hannah Botkin going sub minute last week against Dubuque Hempstead and sophomore “ wunderkind “ Jess Schmeiser last night vs City High.
Next Tuesday, September 14th the Cougars travel to Coe College to compete against their arch rival, the 9th ranked Linn-Mar Lions. The girls are asking all Cougar supporters to fill the stands for the 6:00 start time. Come loud, come proud and see two of the top teams in the state battle for metro bragging rights
The 5th ranked Cougar swimming and diving team traveled to Dubuque Hempstead last night to compete against the Mustangs and came away victorious, winning both the varsity and JV meets. Senior Kylee VonAhsen led the ladies of the blue lagoon winning both of her individual events, the 2 and the 100 freestyle. Other event winners were Carmen McCoy in the 200 IM, freshman sensation Hannah Botkin in the 50 free, Liz Hayes in the 1 meter springboard and Lexi Scharmer in the 100 butterfly. JV individual events winners were Lauren Vito, Tori Spaulding, Katie Ferguson, Brooke Heaton and Megen Rose. The Cougars next meet is Tuesday September 7th when they travel to Iowa City to take on the Little Hawks at 6:00 PM.