Raiders swimmers open season at Newton

NEWTON — The Williamsburg girls’ swimming team opened up their season in a double-dual meet in Newton Thursday night.

The Raiders went 1-1, defeating Tipton by a score of 103-46 and falling to Newton by a score of 115-48.

“This is always a tough meet to start the season with,” Williamsburg head coach Mindy Wuebker said. “Newton is a strong team, and their pool is a 25-meter pool versus the standard 25-yard pool we practice in.”

The 25 -pool distance is also the standard for all other high school pools.

“Just that little bit of extra distance adds up and is tough, especially at the beginning of the season when we are just starting to build endurance,” Wuebker said.

Extra distance aside, Wuebker was happy with the team’s opening performance.

“It is rewarding to see the improvement in technique that has been made since our first day of camp at the beginning of August,” Wuebker said.

“The girls have really been working hard on taking our critique, making adjustments, improving their strokes and can now see the results of that effort.”

The Raiders had several standout performances.

Selah Smith finished second in the 200 individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke.

Maddie Wilkinson made her freshman debut in the 200 individual medley and 100 fly and performed well, according to Wuebker.

Mackenzie Montross also showed improvements from last season.

“Mackenzie put in the time and yards in the off-season and has made major improvements in her technique, which is now showing in her times,” Wuebker said.

The next competition for the Raiders will be in Muscatine Sept. 7.