IOWA CITY — The Iowa City West boys swimming team won its first state title since 2020 and fourth in school history at the Iowa high school state swimming meet on Saturday, Feb. 14.
West secured the crown with 224 points at the end of the two-day event, edging out Linn-Mar who finished with 220 points at the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Trojans claimed their first state title in six years after they placed second at the 2025 state meet.
“Since day one, we’ve been goal-oriented; we wanted this thing more than anything and it just means so much,” said West senior Winston Fan. “We’ve been putting in the work since every morning and every night at practice and it paid off. We just had to hit this taper and we came in ranked third and we ended up being first … so we won the meet and it means the world.”
West opened Saturday’s finals by winning the 200-yard medley relay (1:31.14), which set the tone for its state title run. They proceeded to clinch the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:24.23).
The Trojans had no individual state champions, but they still got elite production across the board.
Notably, Fan placed second in the 100-yard butterfly (49.25) and third in the 100-yard breaststroke (55.28). Junior Ethan Landon placed second in the 100-yard backstroke (49.58) and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly (50.31).
“They were so locked in on winning this title and doing everything they could for the team,” said West coach Byron Butler. “I can’t say enough about them and the seniors in this group. They’re just phenomenal people and they’re really, really great athletes. I’m just lucky to be here.”
Iowa City West earned also earned coaching staff of the year honors.
Sioux City earned the para state championship, while Cedar Rapids Washington senior Andrew Seifert was named swimmer of the year.
Jaiden Lovelace of Sioux City West set a new state best in the 200-yard freestyle para (2:55.23) while Austen Lovelace set a new leading time in the 100-yard freestyle para (1:13.62).
Southeast Polk’s Kale Lincoln became the new state record-holder in the 100-yard breaststroke para (1:27.26).
Finn Martin became a three-time state champion in the 50-yard freestyle. He clinched the three-peat with a new state record time of 20.06, breaking the previous feat that stood for 10 years.
Linn-Mar’s Parker Macho repeated as state champion in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 individual medley. He set a new state record in the 100-yard butterfly (46.58).
Dubuque Senior’s Max Heiar set a new state record in the 50-yard freestyle para (26.14) and the 100-yard backstroke para (1:05.72).
Final team scores:
1. Iowa City West, 224 points
2. Linn-Mar, 220 points
3. Waukee, 175 points
4. Waukee Northwest, 162 points
5. West Des Moines Valley, 158 points
Full first-place results:
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City West boys win Iowa high school swimming state title
Reporting by Marc Ray, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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