MCHS Men’s Swim Team had the opportunity to compete in the district meet in Fort Dodge on February 3rd. The participants this year were: Mason Berg – 200 MR, 50 Free, 200 FR, 400 FR, Sawyer Berg – 100 Fly, August Davison – 50 Free, Ben Hehr – 200 Free, 500 Free, 200 FR, 400 FR, Derek Johnson – 200 MR, 100 Free, 200 FR, 100 Breaststroke, Ryan Korthals – 200 IM, 100 Fly, Nick Litterer – 200 MR, 200 FR, 100 Back, 400 FR, Michael Manternach – 500 Free, 100 Back, Justin Rowe – 100 Fly, Michael Rowe – 200 Free, 500 Free, Wyatt Steffensen – 100 Breaststroke, Aden Stroup – 200 IM, 100 Back, Shaden Tweeten – 200 IM, 100 Breaststroke, and Randy Vaughan – 200 MR, 200 Free, 100 Free, 400 FR.
When asked on how he would sum up the season, Coach Steve Hugo stated, “One can say it started as a ‘swim fast all the time or get run over’ season. 42 athletes were on the roster the first day but after a few practices the team settled with 35, 4 short of tying the record set in 1969. With a 5 lane practice pool at JAMS there were 7 lanes, and swimmers were hand to foot all the time. If anyone slowed down the swimmer behind you would crawl over you. This environment resulted in maximum efforts every day.”
According to Coach Hugo, the swim team surpassed their goals for the season. Hugo stated, “The result of this season’s hard work was greatly improved times from last year throughout the team from top to bottom. Many first timers recorded impressive meet times at the end of the season. At districts the varsity team scored over 100 more Power Points for state rankings than last year, and 5 events into the state meet.”
For the state competition, it was a return to Iowa City, which last hosted the state meet in 2002. The team took 5 events to the meet: the 200 Medley Relay consisting of Mason Berg, Derek Johnson, Nick Litterer, and Randy Vaughan, the 100 Back with Nick Litterer, the 100 Breast and 100 Free with Derek Johnson, and ending with the 400 Freestyle Relay which consisted of Randy Vaughan, Mason Berg, Ben Hehr, and Nick Litterer. Overall, the Mason City Men’s Swim Team placed 20th in the meet, which is an improvement from last year’s place of 23rd. Hugo stated, “The pool gave everyone fast times.”
We had the opportunity to interview Derek Johnson who competed both in districts and state. Derek placed 7th out of 24 in the 100 breast with a time of 59.81 seconds, which placed him on the awards podium for the state meet. The last Mohawk Swimmer to be on the podium was in 2007. Johnson described his experience at the state competition by stating, “It was a lot of fun and very loud.” Johnson adds, “For the younger guys in swimming, stay in swimming because every year gets better. If you have any inclination to join the swim team you need to. Just go for it.” Johnson plans on going to North Park University in Chicago to study Sociology where he will become a Youth Pastor. Johnson doesn’t know yet if he will pursue swimming out of high school, but he commented, “I already miss swimming.”
The swim season for the Mason City Men’s Swim Team had yet another successful year to put in the books while the, “Senior leadership of the year from Mason Berg, Tyler Benitez, Derek Johnson, Jacob Palmer, Wyatt Steffensen, Shaden Tweeten and Derek Wurth” stated Hugo, was “superior and has set up the team foundation to exceed the efforts and performances laid down this year.” Congratulations on a great season!