Head coach Jean Dowd has been down the road facing her Perry girls swim team many times in her 20-year career.
The Jayettes will begin the season with eight swimmers on the roster, of which only one — Anna Ridnour — is a senior.
The low numbers means Perry is simply overwhelmed in most meets by the sheer size and point-scoring capabilities of their opponents, making the season one of winning the battles that can be won: claiming particular events in a meet and continually lowering their own posted times.
By that standard the Jayettes had a spectacular 2017 season, and while departed senior Breanna Penenger will definitely be missed, a roster with plenty of experience remains.
The key will be to avoid injuries, which would decimate the relay lineup and throw Dowd’s carefully balanced assignment list into disarray.
Two swimmers — sophomore Amanda Holwegner and freshman Gracie Phillips — are Panorama students competing with Perry as part of a sharing agreement. Boys swimmers from Perry who wish to compete as high school students swim with Boone during their winter season.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Holwegner, Abby Herman, Jaylene Karolus and Ridnour will be the likely foursome in the 200 freestyle relay, with Herman, Sarah Vaughn and both junior Dannah Karolus and freshman Jaylene Karolus comprising the 400 free relay squad. Vaughn, Holwegner, Herman and Dannah Karolus are expected to compete in the 200 medley relay.
The Karolus sisters will be joined by Holwegner in the 50 free, with Dannah Karolus, Avery Miner and Ridnour swimming the 100 free while Miner and Jaylene Karolus swim the 100 backstroke.
Dowd was unsure regarding the 100 breaststroke, but expected the 100 butterfly to be left uncontested this season.
Herman will swim in the 200 individual medley, with Vaughn looking to continue her steady improvement in the 20-lap 500 freestyle.
The season begins at 6:30 p.m. this evening when Perry hosts Algona at the MCB Pool.
“With it being the first day of school and also the first meet, well, that is quite a lot to be going on, so the goal will be to keep the girls comfortable,” Dowd said. “You never know what you are going to get at a first meet, and when it is also the first day of classes, it makes it more of a mystery.”[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Dowd was hesitant to reflect too deeply on the occasion of her 20th season beginning.
“Obviously having my daughter (Christina) swim at the state meet was very special,” she said. “There have been so many great moments, that I don’t want to mention just a few, because later I will think of others I should have mentioned.”
“The one thing that has been consistent through all the years is the quality of young women who come out for swimming,” Dowd added. “It really becomes something like a family unit. Each year is a little different, but overall you have that same feeling of team, of togetherness.”
Perry will join Osklaoosa for a double-dual at Indianola Tuesday, and will return to their home waters to host Algona and Boone for a double-dual September 4.
