The Newton boys swim team opened its season at the Ankeny Sprint Invitational on October 3, 2023, finishing in seventh place among eight competing teams. The team accumulated 124 points, outperforming Johnston, which scored 92 points. Waukee Northwest clinched the championship title with an impressive 447 points, followed by Waukee with 363.5 points and West Des Moines Valley at 340.
Finn Martin emerged as a standout swimmer for the Cardinals, winning two individual freestyle events. He clocked an impressive 20.99 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, while his winning time for the 100-yard freestyle was recorded at 46.68 seconds. The next closest competitor in the 50-yard event finished with a time of 22.08 seconds. In the 100-yard freestyle, Eli DeJong from West Des Moines Valley secured second place with a time of 47.25 seconds.
The Cardinals also competed in the relay events, finishing sixth in both the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. The relay team, comprising Martin, Ethan Comer, Hudson Meyer, and Caleb Punt, completed the 200 medley relay in 1 minute, 42.22 seconds. They were marginally behind host Ankeny, which finished in 1:41.39, while Waukee took the event with a time of 1:36.89.
In the 200 freestyle relay, the Cardinal quartet posted a time of 1:33.44, just 0.43 seconds behind Dowling, which finished at 1:33.01. Boone won this event with a time of 1:29.09.
As the season progresses, the Newton boys swim team will look to build on this opening performance, with Martin leading the way as a key competitor. The next opportunities to showcase their skills will be crucial in setting the tone for the remainder of the season.
