By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor
TIPTON — The 2018 season was one for the ages for the Tipton swimming program. For the rst time since 2008, THS had events qualify for the state swimming meet in Marshalltown. Along the way, a school record fell as well. All of the state swimmers return for another chance to reach Marshalltown and improve on their outstanding year. The trick will be not to rest on the past and reach for new goals this season. Last year’s team had 15 swimmers, this season the roster sits at 12.
“Last year being the first state trip, and having those returners back, we have a lot to be excited about. We made it in two relays, and we would like to make it in three, and possibly get some individuals qualified as well,” said Tipton swimming coach Whitney Gehrs.
Back are seniors Ali Anderson, Britney Ford, and Sara Webb. The Tigers have a trio of juniors back this season in Kayley Clark, Maddie Swick, and Zoe Stonebrak- er. Sophomore Rhyan Hoe er also returns.
Also back this season are sophomores Alicia Beranek, Hannah Tucker, Sabra Crock, and Corrine VanderGaast. Tipton has one new face on the team this year, Samara Von Tun.
The Tigers were 9-1 in ten dual meets last year. Tipton swimmers won 77 total events and won ten or more events in four of their meets and won nine or more events in two other meets. Two school records were broken as well. Senior Britney Ford was unbeaten in the 100-yard breaststroke in ten dual meets last season.
The 2018 state meet saw the Tigers break the school record in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Ali Anderson, Britney Ford, Maddie Swick, and Zoe Stonebraker cruised to a 2018 season-best time
of 1:54.67. The previous record was held by the team of Amanda Gavin, Mackenzie Moritz, Alex Proctor, and Alicia Goetz placed 17th at that state meet in a time of 1:55.51. The relay finished 20th in the state in the event.
The Tigers also swam in the 200-yard freestyle event at state with the team of Anderson, Stonebraker, Rhyan Hoe er, and Swick. They swam to a season-best time of 1:45.02 to place 29th in the event.
“They exceeded their seed last year, finishing higher than we were going into state. We finished in the top-24 to qualify for state in the relays to get there, and it justified to us that we belonged there and deserved to be at state,” said Gehrs.
Sophomore Rhyan Hoe er made quite an impact last year in her first varsity season. Hoe er had THS best times in the 100- yard freestyle (58.17), 200-yard freestyle (2:07.40), the 500-yard freestyle (5:34.15), the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.99), and the 200-yard individual medley (2:26.65).
Britney Ford had the best time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.90), Maddie Swick had the best time in the 100-yard backstroke (1:07.22), and Ali Anderson had the best time in the 50-yard freestyle (27.05). Junior Zoe Stonebraker turned in the second-best times in ve events - 50-free, 100-free, 200-free, 500-free, and 200-IM. Liz Bierman had the second-best time in the 100-yard breaststroke and Anderson had the time in the 100-yard backstroke.
The Tiger swimmers face yearly adversity as the smallest girl’s swimming team in the state. However, this summer they had another obstacle. They were without a summer practice home as the James Kennedy Family Aquatic Center was closed for repairs. The team was forced to be creative in finding a place to practice. Enter Muscatine. The Tigers were able to secure some time at Muscatine High School to practice this summer and in the preseason as the repairs to their home pool was being made.
“We came to Muscatine over the summer twice a week due to the construction at the aquatic center. It wasn’t ideal, but we made it work. We got to know the Muscatine sta and team. It was nice to get to know them,” said Gehrs.
“We are comfortable here and we will come back to swim in their invitational this year. I think it will be a mini home pool advantage,” she said.
The Tigers have four home meets this season. The first is Thursday, August 29 when the Tigers host Clinton for parents night. Williamsburg comes to town on Tuesday, September 3. The Tigers host Davenport Central on Monday, Septem- ber 23 and will host Fairfield on Monday, October 21. The Tigers have road meets at Williamsburg, Linn-Mar, Fair eld, and Davenport North. The Tigers will swim in weekend invitationals at Muscatine, Clin- ton, and Cedar Rapids Washington. The Regional meet will be Saturday, November 2 with the state meet a week later on Saturday, November 9 in Marshalltown.
Gone From 2018: Artica Dykstra, Liz Bierman, Mayle Brooks.
Back From 2018: Britney Ford, Ali Anderson, Sara Webb, Maddie Swick, Zoe Stonebraker, Kayley Clark, Ryan Hoe er, Alicia Beranek, Hannah Tucker, Sabra Crock, Corrine VanderGaast.
TIPTON — The 2018 season was one for the ages for the Tipton swimming program. For the rst time since 2008, THS had events qualify for the state swimming meet in Marshalltown. Along the way, a school record fell as well. All of the state swimmers return for another chance to reach Marshalltown and improve on their outstanding year. The trick will be not to rest on the past and reach for new goals this season. Last year’s team had 15 swimmers, this season the roster sits at 12.
“Last year being the first state trip, and having those returners back, we have a lot to be excited about. We made it in two relays, and we would like to make it in three, and possibly get some individuals qualified as well,” said Tipton swimming coach Whitney Gehrs.
Back are seniors Ali Anderson, Britney Ford, and Sara Webb. The Tigers have a trio of juniors back this season in Kayley Clark, Maddie Swick, and Zoe Stonebrak- er. Sophomore Rhyan Hoe er also returns.
Also back this season are sophomores Alicia Beranek, Hannah Tucker, Sabra Crock, and Corrine VanderGaast. Tipton has one new face on the team this year, Samara Von Tun.
The Tigers were 9-1 in ten dual meets last year. Tipton swimmers won 77 total events and won ten or more events in four of their meets and won nine or more events in two other meets. Two school records were broken as well. Senior Britney Ford was unbeaten in the 100-yard breaststroke in ten dual meets last season.
The 2018 state meet saw the Tigers break the school record in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Ali Anderson, Britney Ford, Maddie Swick, and Zoe Stonebraker cruised to a 2018 season-best time
of 1:54.67. The previous record was held by the team of Amanda Gavin, Mackenzie Moritz, Alex Proctor, and Alicia Goetz placed 17th at that state meet in a time of 1:55.51. The relay finished 20th in the state in the event.
The Tigers also swam in the 200-yard freestyle event at state with the team of Anderson, Stonebraker, Rhyan Hoe er, and Swick. They swam to a season-best time of 1:45.02 to place 29th in the event.
“They exceeded their seed last year, finishing higher than we were going into state. We finished in the top-24 to qualify for state in the relays to get there, and it justified to us that we belonged there and deserved to be at state,” said Gehrs.
Sophomore Rhyan Hoe er made quite an impact last year in her first varsity season. Hoe er had THS best times in the 100- yard freestyle (58.17), 200-yard freestyle (2:07.40), the 500-yard freestyle (5:34.15), the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.99), and the 200-yard individual medley (2:26.65).
Britney Ford had the best time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.90), Maddie Swick had the best time in the 100-yard backstroke (1:07.22), and Ali Anderson had the best time in the 50-yard freestyle (27.05). Junior Zoe Stonebraker turned in the second-best times in ve events - 50-free, 100-free, 200-free, 500-free, and 200-IM. Liz Bierman had the second-best time in the 100-yard breaststroke and Anderson had the time in the 100-yard backstroke.
The Tiger swimmers face yearly adversity as the smallest girl’s swimming team in the state. However, this summer they had another obstacle. They were without a summer practice home as the James Kennedy Family Aquatic Center was closed for repairs. The team was forced to be creative in finding a place to practice. Enter Muscatine. The Tigers were able to secure some time at Muscatine High School to practice this summer and in the preseason as the repairs to their home pool was being made.
“We came to Muscatine over the summer twice a week due to the construction at the aquatic center. It wasn’t ideal, but we made it work. We got to know the Muscatine sta and team. It was nice to get to know them,” said Gehrs.
“We are comfortable here and we will come back to swim in their invitational this year. I think it will be a mini home pool advantage,” she said.
The Tigers have four home meets this season. The first is Thursday, August 29 when the Tigers host Clinton for parents night. Williamsburg comes to town on Tuesday, September 3. The Tigers host Davenport Central on Monday, Septem- ber 23 and will host Fairfield on Monday, October 21. The Tigers have road meets at Williamsburg, Linn-Mar, Fair eld, and Davenport North. The Tigers will swim in weekend invitationals at Muscatine, Clin- ton, and Cedar Rapids Washington. The Regional meet will be Saturday, November 2 with the state meet a week later on Saturday, November 9 in Marshalltown.
Gone From 2018: Artica Dykstra, Liz Bierman, Mayle Brooks.
Back From 2018: Britney Ford, Ali Anderson, Sara Webb, Maddie Swick, Zoe Stonebraker, Kayley Clark, Ryan Hoe er, Alicia Beranek, Hannah Tucker, Sabra Crock, Corrine VanderGaast.
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