Newton Cardinals qualify for state swim meet in all freestyle events

The Newton girls swim team qualified for the Iowa High School State Swimming and Diving Championships in all six freestyle events, according to the Newton Daily News.

First-year head coach Danyelle Myers noted that the team was strong in freestyle and had hoped some swimmers would try other events, but the team stuck to their strengths.

The state meet is scheduled for Thursday and Friday at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City.

Newton junior Temple Barton and Pella sophomore Reid McCloud qualified for two individual events each, and the team will compete in two relay finals on Friday.

Senior Kimberlee Miller, the only senior state qualifier from Newton, will swim on the 200-yard freestyle relay with Barton, McCloud, and Pella freshman Isabella Woodcock.

The 200-yard relay team enters with the 18th-fastest qualifying time, while the 400 freestyle relay team, including freshman Frances Barton, qualified with the 21st-fastest time.

Coach Myers expressed optimism that the swimmers could improve their times and be competitive despite not being in the fastest heats.