IOWA CITY — Iowa City High’s varsity boys edged past Cedar Rapids Washington 86.00-84.00 Tuesday, Dec. 6 at home in the Mercer Park Aquatic Center in a Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) dual. The Little Hawks, with Solon’s Grant Bumsted and Tyler Gregory, improved to 2-0 on the season while dropping the Warriors to 2-7; and did it while battling illness and a reduced roster.
“We have been hit really hard with illnesses,” said Coach Mandi Kowal. “Eleven guys out, three unable to race, and one went down during the meet. (But) the guys found a way.” The way turned out to be City High’s John Weigel in the anchor leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the meet.
“Weigel comes from behind and out-touches Washington for the win,” Kowal explained. “I could not be more proud,” she added.
Bumsted took fifth place in the varsity 50-yard freestyle in 25.91 seconds and swam in all three varsity relay events. Grayson Wills, River Vanderhoef, Bumsted, and James Kardos were third in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:40.80, Ivan Shinkunas, Drew Brown, Bumsted, and George Karr were fourth in the 200-yard medley in 2:01.10, and Bumsted, Shinkunas, Woodbury Rogers, and Brown were fourth in the 400-yard freestyle in 3:59.77.
City High will host their invitational meet Saturday, Dec. 17 starting at 11:00 a.m. with Ankeny Bettendorf, rival Iowa City West High/Liberty High, Ottumwa, and Pleasant Valley. The Little Hawks will visit Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the final meet of 2022 Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 6:00 p.m. and ring in 2023 by hosting the Waterloo East/Waterloo West team Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6:00 p.m.