T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON • Marshalltown senior Aubrey Hala, front right, signed her National Letter of Intent on Tuesday to join the Iowa Central Community College swimming team next fall. Joining Hala at the signing table was her mother, Alicia, while Tritons head coach Joe Plane, back right, and MHS girls assistant swim coach Mike Loupee stand behind.

Marshalltown senior Aubrey Hala signed her National Letter of Intent to join the swimming program at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge this fall in the team room of the Roundhouse on Tuesday morning.

When it came to choosing her landing spot for the fall season, Hala said there were a lot of things that led her picking the Tritons.

“My brother goes there and it’s just a nice campus. It feels like a four year but it’s only a two year,” Hala said. “I like to swim and this helps me to have more opportunities to get better.”

Hala is relatively new to swimming, since she just started swimming competitively two years ago, but Iowa Central head coach Joe Plane said her inexperience isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“I think her lack of experience is actually very exciting for me,” Plane said. “She is tall and lean, which is good for swimming, and she’s very intelligent and a great student. I’ve found that really good students are good swimmers generally if they are willing to work hard and are willing to learn.”

Hala is actually the second Bobcat to sign on with the Tritons for next season, as she joins state-qualifier Zoe Beals on the team. Plane said next season’s team will be mainly made up of young talent, but Hala will fit right into the plans.

“We are small right now, we are all freshmen, and I think [Hala] is No. 9 right now,” Plane said. “She will be a depth person right now, fill where I need her to fill, probably more on the sprints side of freestyle.”

On top of the freestyle, Hala said she will likely do some work in the back stroke as well. As for her feelings on the signing, Hala said she can’t wait to join the team with Beals and get to work.

“I am very excited and grateful,” she said. “I’ll have Zoe but it seems like the team is just one big family.”