AMES — The seven members of the Perry girls swim team who were active Tuesday included one racer battling a foot injury and the other freshly cleared to compete after concerns over a non-swimming related concussion.
The team was visiting Ames, who was hosting their first meet of the year. Ames, a school nearly three times Perry’s size and whose Little Cyclone swim team boasts a roster of more than 80 — yes, 80 — swimmers.
Ames scored 13 points from their divers, part of a 116-36 win, a victory in which Perry placed no better than third in any of the 11 events.
Despite the long odds, veteran head coach Jean Dowd’s squad was able to smile on the bus ride home after solid efforts from all, including the posting of four new personal best (PB) times along the way.
Junior Dannah Karolus had two PB swims, finishing third in the 100 freestyle in 1 minute, 1.89 seconds and third in the 200 free in 2:17.51. Senior Anna Ridnour was fourth in the latter, touching in 2:30.82.
Freshman Jaylene Karolus swam a new PB in the 100 butterfly by touching third in 1:12.02, with Abby Herman third in the 50 free in a PB of 28.51, teammate Amanda Holwegner finishing fourth in the race in 32.7.
Sarah Vaughn was third in both the 200 IM (2:46.61) and 500 free (6:30.11), with Ridnour third in the 100 breaststroke (1:27.48) while Jaylene Karolus and Avery Miner were 3-4 in the 100 backstroke in 1:13.84 and 1:22.69, respectively.
All three of the Jayette relay teams placed third in their races. The 200 medley foursome of Vaughn, Ridnour, Herman and Jaylene Karolus touched in 2:20.51 with Herman, Holwegner, Ridnour and Dannah Karolus posting a 1:59.86 in the 200 free while the 400 free quartet of Herman, Vaughn, Jaylene and Dannah Karolus finished in 4:20.82. All relay names are listed in the order in which each swimmer competed.
Perry hosts Fort Dodge at the McCreary Community Center pool Thursday, with the meet beginning at 6:30 p.m.
