-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Eileen Fierke of Fort Dodge compete girls 100 yard freestyle against Ames on Tuesday

The Fort Dodge swim team is ready to get back to work at the regional meet on Saturday.

The Dodgers, who haven’t competed since Oct. 20, have been preparing for this meet in their own pool.

“It’s a benefit to have so long between meets for regionals,” said Fort Dodge head coach Ashley Beaumont. “It gives us time to rest up and prepare.”

Fort Dodge will host one of eight regional events beginning at noon in the FDSH pool.

Joining the Dodgers will be Algona, Carroll, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines Roosevelt, Dowling, Mason CIty, Sioux City and Spencer.

“I love it. Fort Dodge is a fast pool for its age,” Beaumont said. “We fit great crowds here and it’s where the state meet used to be.

“The girls can be in their own environment.”

Fort Dodge has had a strong season, going 8-6 in dual meets.

“We have had a really good season and were competitive in our new conference (Iowa Alliance Conference),” Beaumont said. “We haven’t been steam rolled every time and now the veterans have someone to swim against and show time improvements.”

During the long break the Dodgers have been preparing for regionals.

“They look great,” Beaumont said. “We’ve just been working on some last minute stuff, so we are ready to go.”

The Dodgers enter with some good seed times as sophomore Hailey Vogel has the fastest time in the 50 freestyle.

State regular, senior Eileen Fierke is the second quickest in the 100 freestyle.

Fort Dodge’s 200 freestyle relay is seeded third. Vogel is fifth in the 100 breaststroke, while sophomore Julia Eastman (Southeast Valley) is the fifth seed in the backstroke and sixth in the 100 butterfly. Fierke is sixth in the 100 breaststroke.

“Eileen has huge goals for herself,” Beaumont said. “When I first met her, she was an itty bitty little thing and has gotten a lot tougher. She was disappointed after last year and wants to get back to where she was her sophomore year.

“She has left a great mark on this program. The younger ones look up to her. At practice they were saying, ”Oh, this is one of the last times we get to swim with you.”

This will be the last home meet for seniors Makenna Kammerer, Emily Dawson and Lilian Shin.

“McKenna was a relay state qualifier. I would love to have an entire team of McKenna’s. She pushes hard and never misses her set,” Beaumont said. “Lillian has come out of her bubble and has been one of the biggest cheerleaders for her team.

“Emily has been plagued with injuries, so I’m hoping she has a good regional meet to finish off her career.”

The event champion earns an automatic state bid and the next best 24 times from the eight regionals advances to the state meet in Marshalltown next weekend.