Wilson enjoys fashionable night for Cougars

By Jim Ecker

CEDAR RAPIDS – All of the Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls wore black swim suits Tuesday during their 106-80 victory over Washington at the Kennedy pool.

All but one, that is.

Shea Wilson wore her special “tech suit’ in an effort to swim even faster than she normally does, a pink floral outfit that stood out in a crowd.

“It helps me go faster. It repels the water,” she explained. “It’s skin tight. And it doesn’t create any drag.”

Wilson, a senior and a premier swimmer, captured the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. She also swam on the victorious 200 medley relay and the triumphant 200 freestyle relay for four titles.

“I did all right,” she said modestly. “I was hoping to get a state qualifying time (in the 100 free), but I didn’t.”

That’s what the special suit was for and she came close. Wilson needed a 54.5 in the 100 free to automatically qualify for the state meet, but she was clocked in 54.74. She’ll have other chances.

Ava Lutz won the 200 freestyle and 100 fly for the Cougars. Francesca Martino captured the 200 IM for Kennedy and Cierra Montgomery won the 50 free.

Jada Ripke enjoyed an impressive night for Washington with dominant victories in the 500 free and 100 backstroke. Reyata Ortiz had a strong showing in diving for first place, and the Warriors took the 400 freestyle relay.

Kennedy raised its records to 13-13 overall and 3-2 in the Mississippi Valley Conference. Washington emerged at 6-16 overall and 1-6 in the league.

KENNEDY 106, WASHINGTON 80
200 medley relay – Kennedy (Francesca Martino, Shea Wilson, Lucy Nunez, Cierra Montgomery) 1:55.27
200 free – Ava Lutz (K) 2:08.77
200 IM – Martino (K) 2:24.67
50 free – Montgomery (K) 27.53
Diving – Reyata Ortiz (W) 197.25
100 fly – Lutz (K) 1:02.88
100 free – Wilson (K) 54.74
500 free – Jada Ripke (W) 5:35.53
200 free relay – Kennedy (Wilson,Montgomery, Nunez, Martino) 1:47.26
100 back – Ripke (W) 1:04.12
100 breast – Wilson (K) 1:09.67
400 free relay – Washington (Maija Wickum, Harper Decker, Josie Robinson, Morgan Millsap) 4:06.45