Perry’s swim team continued to flash improved efforts Tuesday, with time drops helping the team stay competitive with larger squads from Storm Lake and Algona.
Storm Lake slipped past Perry, 84-66, and defeated Algona, 80-78. Perry and Algona finished in a 73-all tie. Three places are scored in double dual meets, with each team competing individually against each other.
“We switched things up a little bit tonight and the girls did very well,” head coach Jean Dowd said. “They are doing all we ask of them in practice and are starting to see it pay off in meets.”
Jaylene Karolus swam the 200 individual medley for the first time in varsity competition, with the Jayette sophomore besting both opponents with a 2 minute, 31.4 second effort.
Sarah Vaughn was also first against both with a season-best 2:22.02 in the 200 freestyle.
Gracie Phillips topped both foes with a 1:18.36 in the 100 backstroke, with Amanda Holwegner second to Storm Lake and first against Algona in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:26.7 clocking.
Karolus was a double-winner in the 100 butterfly in 1:10.73, with Avery Miner 2-3, in 31.41, in the 50 free while Hailey Meacham was third to Storm Lake in the race in 33.55.
Holwegner was 2-1 and Miner 3-2 in the 100 free with times of 1:05.73 and 1:08.38, respectively, the later a personal-best. Vaughn’s double-winning posting of 6:20.69 was a season best.
Perry topped both visitors in the 400 free in 4:36.28, with the 200 free relay 2-1 in 2:03.76. Vaughn, Miner, Phillips and Karolus swam the former and Phillips, Meacham, Holwegner and Karolus the later.
The hosts opened the meet with a 2-2 finish in the 200 medley relay. Phillips, Holwegner, Meacham and Miner combined to post a season-best 2:19.26 in the race.
Freshman Rhylan Agan continued her steady improvement in junior varsity races. She lopped a whopping 29.86 seconds off her previous best in the 100 free to touch in 1:32.84, with her 41.2 in the 50 free a drop of three seconds.
Perry is at Ames Tuesday, and then will have just three swimmers available to make a Sept. 26 trip to Fort Dodge, where Algona will also be in action.
