Swim team readies for new pool, rematch with Dowling

After opening the season with a seven-meet win streak, the women’s swim and dive team faced its first loss of the season on Sept. 20, falling to Dowling Catholic at the Waukee CDS Natatorium.

Holmes freshman Ava Feldick said the loss came at a time when the team was feeling the effects of intense training.

“Right now is the peak of our season, and we’re all really tired,” Feldick said, “but our coaches said it’s happening exactly how they wanted it because we’re going to be stronger at State.”

State competition is scheduled for Nov. 14–15 at the new CFHS pool. Dowling Catholic won last year’s state title, while Cedar Falls placed second.

“We are planning to beat them this year,” Feldick said. “All of us are training and doing our absolute best. We are also very strong as a team and very bonded to each other, and I think that helps.”

On Sept. 29 the swim team will practice in the brand new high school swimming pool that has just been finished. The pool has been in construction since 2024. 

Feldick said, “I’m honestly kinda intimidated. It just feels like we have had the Holmes pool for so long that it just feels like the new one shouldn’t be ours.” 

Cedar Falls will host its first home meet in the new pool on Oct. 4. During construction, the team practiced at Holmes and held two practices per day four days a week, with training six days a week total.

“I do get really tired,” Feldick said, “but it’s worth it because you get to work toward something together as a team. Even though I practice six days a week, Sundays are the worst because I have nothing to do, and I’m always just bored.”

Feldick has already made an impact on the team this season, placing first in the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter relay and 400-meter relay at the Sept. 17 meet.

“When you dive into the water, it’s kind of like a rush,” she said. “Everything in your mind just goes blank. It’s just nothing for a while, and then you fall into a natural rhythm. If I have a song in my head, I usually just play that on repeat. Other than that, you just hear the water rushing past your ears.”

In their most recent swim meet  on Sept. 25, the team dominated Ankeny 124 to 62 in what was their last swim meet at Holmes before officially residing at the new high school.