drake landsman
The seniors on the Davenport Central High School girls swim team left their mark on their home pool one last time at Saturday’s regional meet.
The Blue Devils won eight tournaments and set four school records en route to next weekend’s state tournament in Marshalltown.
After the tournament, Davenport Central’s Mary Selden was named Region Player of the Year and Brian Heller was named Region Coach of the Year.
Dowling Catholic, which finished second at state last year, won the district with 523 points. Central was second with 424 cases, Pleasant Valley (410) was third, Muscatine (242) was fourth and Burlington (198) was fifth. Davenport West (88), Clinton (82), Keokaku (53) and Davenport North (51) rounded out the field.
The Blue Devils set the tone in the first swimming event of the meet, winning the 200-yard medley relay with a new school record time of 1:45.70. Her seniors Hannah Cousins, Isabel Heller and Simone Green, and her junior Gabby Hanson set the mark.
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Selden also broke the school record in the next event, winning the 200m freestyle in 1:53.58.
Selden, who missed last year’s district tournament after transferring from Bettendorf to Davenport Assumption, made the most of it as a senior.
“I really enjoyed the race today, and it’s nice to be recognized,” she said of receiving the award. “It was just so much fun.”
Selden also won the 100 freestyle (52.46 points), and Green also finished first for Central in the 50 freestyle (24.68 points). In the 500 free, PV senior Lauren Kathan took second in 5:14.79 and Central sophomore Olivia Hopewell took third. Both times dropped significantly, with Hopewell’s 5:17.10 becoming Central’s third school record of the day.
“We’ve been pushing each other hard lately, especially heading into this postseason,” Selden said. “We just want to keep this momentum going and we’re having a lot of fun. We’re just riding the wave right now.
“They’re my best friends. I love being with them every day and racing with them. They push me to be the best I can be. I wouldn’t trade this team for the world. .”
Cousins won the 100 fly in 56.87, an event in which she placed second at the state meet last year. The defending state champion in the 100 backstroke won Saturday with a score of 57.73.
Cousins said he was thrilled to perform one last time in his home pool with friends he grew up with and set a record in the process.
“The seniors have done a lot to promote this program, but I’m very excited for the upcoming class and what they can put on the table as well,” she said. said.
Cousins wasn’t even sure if he would last this long this season. She suffered a herniated disc in her back in early September, she said. She underwent physical therapy three times a week for eight weeks, and then a few weeks ago, after she contracted the coronavirus, she returned to training in earnest.
“It means so much to me to be able to swim at state and have this experience one last time with my best friends,” she said.
Heller won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:04.81. She placed third at the state meet in this event last year.
She said the team got off to a good start by starting the meet with a school record. The Blue Devils hope to improve on their fifth-place finish in the state last season.
“This really improves the environment,” Heller said. “We were all very excited and ready to see what the rest of the day would bring.”
Green, Cousins and sisters Abby and Mary Selden closed out the meet by winning the 400-meter free relay (3:32.68), setting the fourth school record of the day. .
At PV, junior Dorsin Green won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:06.72. Heller was the runner-up.
PV’s first-year head coach Meredith Gorman said the relay performance stood out, along with Green’s drop in time and the freshman’s regional debut. Gorman said Green’s mentality in racing stands out.
“When she wants it, she’ll ask for it, and she’ll get it,” Gorman said. “It’s really great to see.”
Green said it felt great to get the win and see his hard work pay off.
“Everyone on our team has worked hard throughout this season,” she said. “It feels great to know it’s really paying off.”
Green also placed second in the 100 fly.
Central’s 200 free relay of Abby Selden, Lauren Valeroi, Heller and Mary Selden took second place.