The Perry swimmers honored their lone senior and did their part to raise awareness of the battle against breast cancer with a Pink Out at their final home and regular meet of the season Tuesday.
Algona and Carroll were the two guests, with the format calling for each team to be scored independently against their two opponents. Perry topped Algona, 76-54, but fell to Carroll, 92-58, with Carroll besting Algona, 108-45. The hosts did not compete in either the 100 butterfly or 200 IM.
Jaylene Karolus was honored before the meet for her devotion to the program, which has included four seasons of the standout sharing duties with the cross country team. Such split chores often required early-morning runs as a harrier, a normal school day, and then a tiring swim practice.
The Jayettes had two season-best times at the meet and four times had swimmers establish new personal-best efforts.
Freshman Quin Mahler-Moreno set a new school record on her 15th birthday, breaking her own previous PHS mark of 2 minutes, 2.56 seconds in the 200 freestyle with a clocking of 2:01.24. She was 1-2 (first against Algona, second to Carroll) with teammate Jenna Nelson second in Algona in 2:22.68.
Karolus was first overall in the 50 freestyle in 25.5 ticks, with Nelson 3-3 in 29.94, a new PB, while Karolus was also an overall winner in the 100 free in 55.84 while Emily Dowd was second to Algona in 1:09.33. Both of times posted by Karolus were her best of the season while Dowd set a new PB.
Sophia McDevitt was the overall victor in the 500 freestyle in 5:45.94, with Lily Riley 2-3 in 6:07.19, a PB by 3.86 seconds.
McDevitt was 1-2 in the 100 backstroke in 1:08.6, with Mahler-Moreno first against both foes in the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.02 while Dowd was third to both in 1:38.12.
Perry was first overall in the 400 free relay in 3:58.74 and 1-2 in the 200 medley relay in 2:00.24. Karolus, McDevitt, Mahler-Moreno and Riley swam the 400 and McDevitt, Mahler-Moreno, Karolus and Zoe Hibbert the 200.
The hosts finished 1-3 in the 200 free relay with a time of 2:10.48. Dowd, Nelson, Riley and Hailey Peterson were the quartet in the water for the Jayettes.
Perry is now off until competing in a regional meet Nov. 6 at the Trailpoint Aquatics Center in Ankeny. The two teams will be joined by Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Centerville, Keokuk, Mason City, NCMP (Newton), Oskaloosa, Ottumwa and Southeast Polk.
The Jayettes are coached by Jean Dowd, with Hiliary Mahler assisting.
