Swimming: Boone glides past Roosevelt for first time ever
By Brandon Hurley
Sports Editor
The Boone girls’ swim team sprang into the history books with a convincing victory Tuesday night.
The Toreadors swam past Des Moines Roosevelt, 102-84 for the first time in program history, improving their season dual record to a perfect 7-0.
Boone, who also receives significant contributions from a trio of Greene County athletes (Julia Saul, Ellie Madson and Sophia Ausberger), was coming a strong fifth-place finish at the Marshalltown Invite, Saturday, Sept. 21.
The Toreadors competed against nine of the state’s top programs, including champion Johnston, Des Moines Lincoln and Carroll.
Tuesday’s victory was a fierce battle throughout, with the Toreadors improving their overall record to 11-4.
Saul swam the opening leg of Boone’s gold medal-winning 400-yard freestyle relay. The Toreadors captured the title with a time of 4:02.75, well ahead of Boone’s silver medal squad (4:10.47) anchored by Madson and Ausberger.
Saul also secured a pair of bronze medals in the 200-yard freestyle relay and in the individual 200-yard freestyle. The relay bronze was also aided by Ausberger and Madson. The Ram trio helped the Toreadors swim to a time of 1:40.31.
Boone head coach Chris Mann was thrilled with Tuesday’s triumph. He viewed it as a significant stepping stone for a Toreadors squad that is headed toward a special season.
“This was our program’s first ever win at Roosevelt High School, and it wasn’t because Roosevelt is having a down year,” the coach said. “On the contrary, they returned the majority of their state lineup from last year. It is because our girls showed up. Every race, every event we were there with energy and enthusiasm and heart.
Mann continued, “This was one of the most exciting dual meets I have ever been a part of.”
Tuesday’s back-and-forth contest was tight from the very beginning. The Roughriders grabbed an early lead after three events before Boone made their run, taking a two-point lead following the diving events. Roosevelt regained control thanks to a sweep in the 500-yard events, which later saw Boone go up again after the 200 yard events.
“After the backstroke we were tied with two events remaining,” Mann said. “A 1-2-4 finish in the breaststroke with two come-from-behind swims and a crazy 1-2 finish in the 400 yard freestyle relay, we locked the meet away.
Kudos to these girls for their grit.”
The Toreadors return to the pool Saturday, Sept. 28 as they take on Des Moines Lincoln.
They’ll stay on the road Tuesday, Oct. 1 for a dual meet in Grinnell. Boone will also square off against Vinton-Shellsburg and Williamsburg.
The Toreadors next home meet is at 5:30 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 8.
- Log in to post comments