The 2011-12 swim season proved to be the unbelievable! From the freshman to the seniors, everyone put in the hard work and dedication to make this season one that few will forget. The season started with four straight wins, all four coming down to the final relay, needing a win to win the meet. With the winter break the team put in more dryland work and more yards than they have in any season before, with high goals for breaking records and winning some big dual meets after the break. A great showing at the Johnston Invite pushed the Rails to keep working hard and aiming for the end of the season. With the conference and district meets, we saw all the boys drop time and post season best swims.
Freshman Mason Starmer went his fastest breast and sprint free times of the year at the conference meet, and Tommy Nachtigal followed right behind with personal best times as well. Five of the nineteen boys finished their season strong with a great conference meet, heads shaven and tapered to win.
The district meet was postponed until Monday evening due to weather, but that wouldn’t stop the boys from getting to state in record numbers. Brady Edwards opened up the evening setting a new school record in the 200 free, taking Evan Johnston’s name off the record board for the first time! The records continued to fall as Hunter Hofmaier broke his own backstroke record, and four seniors (Hunter, Kort, Luis, Brady) teamed up to take down the 1991 sprint relay school record. The night ended with all of the swimmers and families gathering to find out who made it to state, and everyone was happy when 11 boys were making the trip to Marshalltown.
The state meet brought a lot of nerves to all of the guys who had never swam there before, but the most exciting event was the very first one. The medley team of (Hunter, Luis, Mitchell, Carter) broke the 1989 200 medley relay school record. Carter’s anchor time of 22.60 was a personal best 50 free time for him and it came at the perfect time! The Rails finished 21st in the state and the seniors left with their heads raised high.
The team banquet brought tears from many as this group of seniors move on and are missed. But the group behind them is ready to put their stamp on the program.
2011-2012 Awards
Most Valuable Player: Brady Edwards
Tom Cady Achievement Award: Brady Edwards
Rookie of the Year: Tom Chidley
Most Improved: Mitchell Friend
Workhorse Award: Matt Friend and Mason Starmer
Team Captains: Luis Arias, Kort Kern, and Brady Edwards
