Several athletes from Perry and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High Schools will be competing in the state meet for swimming and diving this weekend.

Individually, Perry is taking sophomore Aleah Karolus and senior Quin Mahler-Moreno, as well as the 400 meter freestyle relay and 200 meter medley relay. Mahler-Moreno individually qualified for the 100 meter breaststroke and the 500 meter freestyle. Karolus advanced in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle, while setting new school records in both events. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio that she was chasing after those records.

“I was really hoping to get state and hopefully the record in the 50 (meter freestyle), so it was nice to get that. And I was a bit surprised in the 100 (meter freestyle) honestly because I didn’t think I was going to drop that much, but it felt really good.”

For ADM, sophomore Finlee Burns, and juniors Emma Popp and Eliza Schmidt will be three of the athletes on Waukee’s team. Burns qualified in the 50 meter freestyle, the 100 meter freestyle, and the 400 meter freestyle relay, while Popp is going in the 100 meter backstroke, the 200 meter medley individual relay, and the 200 meter medley relay. Schmidt is a diver, who broke the Waukee school record earlier this season. Schmidt’s Coach Emma Ashman explains that she brings her “A” game every time.

“She’s consistent, she’s steady, she never complains, and she also is a ‘lead by example’ type of girl. She’s gritty, (and) she’s not afraid to work hard.”

All the swimmers and divers from Perry and ADM High School will compete at the state meet this Friday and Saturday in Marshalltown.