The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) has released its psych sheet for the 2021 boys’ IHSAA State Swimming Meet, which will take place on February 13.
Generally, this meet is held at the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, but this year, due to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the meet will be held at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion, Iowa.
The COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the format of the meet. No spectators will be allowed at the meet, and all teams will be assigned a location to stay at for the duration of the meet, as well as assigned lanes for warm-up and warm-down. Additionally, every participating school will only be allowed three coaches on deck and one alternate.
Last year, Iowa City West defeated 2019 champion Ankeny, 262.5 to 236. That was Iowa City West’s first state title since 2015. Waukee, who won the state titles in 2016 and 2017, finished third at the meet last year.
Cal commit Trent Frandson is among the swimmers highlighting the state meet. The Ankeny senior is the defending state champion and state record holder in both the 200 (1:35.68) and 500 free (4:23.46), and enters this meet as the second seed in both events.
AJ Abram of Waukee enters the meet as the #1 seed in the 200 free (1:40.34), an event in which he placed third at last year’s meet. He is also the #2 seed in the 100 free (46.10). Also looking to make waves for Waukee is 2020 100 fly champ Andrew Reiter, who is seeded first in the 200 IM (1:50.49) and third in the 100 fly (50.07).
In the 100 breast, Kohen Rankin of Sioux City Metro enters the meet as the top seed with a time of 56.59, after placing fourth in that event in 2020 with a time of 57.40. He is seeded just ahead of freshman Josh Chen of Ames (56.89), who will look to make a splash at his first high school state meet. Back in November, Chen broke an Iowa Swimming LSC Record at a meet hosted by the Des Moines YMCA. His time of 57.18 broke the previous record of 58.46, held by Forest Frazier, winner of the 100 breaststroke at last year’s state meet and current freshman at Cal. Chen has since lowered his time more, with his most recent PB being his 56.89 seed, a time he posted at his district meet last weekend.
The meet will begin at 12:10pm on February 13. Live coverage will be available on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) website.
While not the Univ. of Iowa pool, the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center is a wonderful pool with guaranteed wonderful hosts – few better folks in the high school swim community than the folks associated with Linn-Mar swim program and their pool.
Thought this was IHSA and then i remembered Pritzger hates kids.