-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Girls Swimming State qualifiers are, left to right, Front Row: Delaney O'Connor, Julia Eastman Back Row Hailey Vogel, Kylen Lubenske, Gracie Harvey

Since the first day of practice Fort Dodge swim coach Ashley Beaumont knew the potential her team faced.

This Dodger group has tested the state waters and are looking to not just earn points, but turn them into medals.

Fort Dodge will compete in seven state events in Marshalltown on Friday and Saturday.

“We lost some great seniors from last year’s team, but since the very first day of practice we knew we had some strong returning swimmers,” Beaumont said. “They compete and go above and beyond.

“They are ready to swim and dive.”

A year after competing in four state events, Dodger seniors Julia Eastman and Hailey Vogel will once again complete the feat.

Both Eastman and Vogel will compete in two individual events and be in both Dodger Relays. St. Edmond senior Delaney O’Connor will be Fort Dodge’s first state diving qualifier since 1998.

Junior Gracie Harvey and sophomore Kylen Lubensky will be in relay events.

“This group of seniors are the most positive and excited to be in the pool,” Beaumont said. “They have the spirit of Fort Dodge.

“They’re not just good swimmers, they are good people and students. They carry an accumulated 3.7 GPA and are great role models for the other swimmers and students.”

Eastman, a Southeast Valley student, enters the state event with two regional championships and will compete in her 15th event at the state meet.

The senior enters with a lot of momentum after breaking a 39-year old mark in the 100 butterfly from 1986. She finished in 58.51, topping the previous best time of 59.44.

Eastman nearly set her second Dodger record in the 100 backstrom (58.56), missing by .2 seconds.

She enters with the sixth best time in the 100 backstroke and seventh quickest in the 100 butterfly.

“Julia has just been swimming so strong,” Beaumont said. “She wants to prove a lot and go out there and finish with a medal. She has worked so hard to be in this position.”

Vogel, who has been swimming for the Dodgers for three years, has qualified in 12 state events. She was ninth in the 50 freestyle a year ago and was an eighth-place finisher as a sophomore in the A final.

Vogel enters as the regional champion in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.48. It is the eighth fastest in the state.

The Dodger senior was a runner up in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.18. That time is the seventh fastest.

“Hailey really wants to get back on the podium after just missing last year,” Beaumont said. “She has been successful and has that goal set to do something amazing and great at state.”

O’Connor finished fifth at regionals and enters in the 31st position of the diving portion of the state meet.

“Delaney didn’t want to have too much hope going into regional diving,” Beaumont said. “We had some pretty tough judging at regionals. Delaney is the girl that is so willing to try things and not back down her ground.

“She is always willing to go for it. We’ve had girls try diving before, but they were afraid to mess up. She has no fear.”

The Dodger 200 medley relay of Eastman, Vogel, Harvey and Lubensky is sitting ninth in the state with a time of 1:51.98.

Fort Dodge’s 200 medley relay was fourth last year. Lubensky will fill the spot of Raegan Wooldridge.

Fort Dodge’s 400 medley relay of Vogel, Harvey, O’Connor and Eastman sit in 27th with a time of 3:52.53.

“Gracie and Kylen are younger, but they both are leaders,” Beaumont said. “They work hard and have set themselves up to continue to take on the role of leaders next year.”

The Dodgers had a strong showing at regionals, earning seven state spots, including three regional championships.

“Last weekend was amazing and we dropped time in everything,” Beaumont said. “We still have something left. We are ready to go see some great times and hopefully be on that stand.”

Algona junior Taylor Reese will compete in her third state diving competition. Reese enters with the seventh best score (427.95) for the divers.

As a sophomore she placed 20th and was also a qualifier as a freshman.

Sophomore Ella Welp will compete for the Bulldogs in the 100 breaststroke. She has the 21st time in 1:08.60.

Individual prelims start Friday at 11 a.m. for Eastman and Vogel. O’Connor will begin diving at 4:30 p.m.

Individual finals and timed relay finals will start at noon. The diving finals will be on Saturday as well.