Friday was a big win for Marshalltown the moment the Iowa Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships began at 11 a.m. Held without fans but available for the public to pay to watch online, it was another of the unique ways in which the state has tried to safely hold its high school state tournaments.

The pool at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA was quieter than usual, the usual loud cheers from crowds of fans replaced by polite claps from team coaches and other participants. There was not any big pomp and circumstance with the awards ceremony. Instead, the medalists were quickly honored, a few pictures were taken and then divers and their teams were advised to leave the swimming pool as soon as possible. The organizers had to clean and sanitize the stands while setting up the pool for swimming preliminaries, which took place Friday evening.

It was a state tournament unlike any other — but for Marshalltown senior diver Hannah Taylor, it was a worthwhile experience.

“It was a good closing, especially since with the pandemic we didn’t even know if we were gonna have state,” Taylor said. “It was a good compromise to not have visitors but still be able to have the state meet.”

Taylor finished ninth in the final standings of the diving competition with a final score of 438.05, her best finish in three tries at state. She finished two points lower than her regionals score of 440.05. While it wasn’t the medal-winning finish she said she was hoping for, after a difficult start she was proud of how far she came back.

Head coach Angie Nelson found it hard not to get emotional talking about Taylor’s impact on the Marshalltown diving team.

“It’s hard to talk about Hannah without getting choked up a bit,” Nelson said. “She has come so very far, and she works so hard and for. She’s just had an absolutely amazing high school career at MHS.”

She was the best-finishing Bobcat Friday afternoon and one of two to make it to the final group with junior Mia Rasmusson, who finished in 14th place with a final score of 413. It was a 26-point improvement on her performance in regionals.

The first five dives were a slog, as every participant tried to put their best dives forward in order to make it to the second round of 20 divers. The first round did spell the end for Marshalltown freshman Abby Tollefson, who suffered a score of 16.2 in her fourth dive and was left frustrated after the first five were completed.

Nelson was frustrated and sad that there was no way for them to have a replay and figure out for sure what happened.

“What happened to her today, it was a miss and probably shouldn’t have happened if you could rewind and do it all over again,” Nelson said. “And unfortunately it cut a great day for her really short.”

Rasmusson had her best showing at state and a new personal-best final score after going out after the first five dives in 2019, and for her to make it into the points impressed Nelson.

Rasmusson was happy with her day and with her ability to get back into a rhythm after a tough start to the night.

“I’m very proud of myself,” Rasmusson said. “I was just trying my best to stay tight and push forward and have fun.”

The event was won by Makayla Hughbanks of Bettendorf — a senior who took the crown with a final score of 505.70, defeating senior Carla Wheeler of Johnston, who came in second with a score of 484.25. Hughbanks’ Bettendorf teammate, Sydney Hanson, finished in third, giving the duo medals in their final dives as high school athletes.

Nat Freeman of Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Addi Kamienski of Johnston rounded out the top-five, while Ankeny’s Erica Peters was the final medal winner.

Hughbanks was thrilled with her win, and with the chance to be on the podium with one of her teammates.

“I’m very happy with how this season ended,” Hughbanks said. “I think me and [Hanson] are very proud of how we placed this year.

“I’ll never forget it. It’s been a crazy year, but definitely worth it.”

Iowa Girls High School State Diving Championships

At Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA

Team Standings (through 1 event) — 1. Johnston 43, 2. Bettendorf 36, 3. Ankeny 23, 4. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 15, 5. Marshalltown 12, 6. Linn-Mar 11, 7. Waterloo 7, 8. Dowling Catholic 5, 9. West Des Moines Valley 2, 10. Muscatine 1.

DIVING RESULTS

1. Makayla Hughbanks, Bett, 505.70

2. Ciara Wheeler, Johnston, 484.25

3. Sydney Hanson, Bettendorf, 478.75

4. Nat Freeman, CR Jefferson, 455.95

5. Addi Kamienski, Johnston, 447.25

6. Erica Peters, Ankeny, 446.60

7. Abby Hutchins, Johnston, 445.90

8. Corrin Williams, Linn-Mar, 440.90

9. Hannah Taylor, MHS, 438.05

10. Avery Hogan, Waterloo, 435.95

11. Dasha Toth, Ankeny, 432.50

12. Allexa Larson, Dowling, 427.20

14. Mia Rasmusson, MHS, 413.00

15. Liz Noll, Valley, 410.90

16. Lexi Hirt, Muscatine, 407.50

17. Reese Miller, Linn-Mar, 297.75

18. Ella Heath, Dav. West, 288.90

19. Kerilyn Schmidt, Waukee, 282.60

20. Morgan Galloway, Muscatine, 259.20

21. Lacey Neighbor, CR Kennedy, 187.05

22. Isabel Hawker, CR Wash, 183.35

23. Mali McGregor, Waukee, 182.25

24. Maggie Schlamp, Linn-Mar, 180.45

25. Jacie Flockhart, Boone, 180.10

26. Reese Snavely, Waukee, 177.05

27. Rosa Monarch, Mason City, 175.70

28. Abby Tollefson, MHS, 174.60

29. Greta Stanier, Iowa City High, 174.15

30. Brinley Krivachek, Decorah, 173.65

31. Maddie Glaus, Pleasant Valley, 166.90