The Bobcats were convincing Monday evening in victories over Southeast Polk (67-27) and Mason City (68-26) in a triangular meet at the MHS pool, continuing a run of hot form and strong swims as conference and district meets are rapidly approaching.

The Bobcats had another day filled with personal and lifetime bests, Loupee said, and he was encouraged by the speed the team showed after a morning practice and evening meet.

“We swam this morning, so they’re a little tired and a little sore,” Loupee said. “And they’re swimming pretty fast. We’ve got a pretty decent list of PBs and LTBs, so we’re pretty excited about that.”

The Bobcats started out with a win in the 200-yard medley relay as Dane Petty, Ethan Benscoter, Stephen Blom and Carter Hunt finished with a time of 1:51.12. Benscoter was the winner in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:56.16, with Petty coming in second at 1:57.12. Marcus Barker took home his first victory of the night in the 200-yard IM with Blom close behind in second place. Seberger won the next event, the 50-yard freestyle, by inches with a 22.61.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown’s Stephen Blom makes his way through the water in the 500-yard freestyle during Monday’s triangular meet at the MHS pool. Blom won the event in a time of 5 minutes, 4 seconds.

A win followed in the 500-yard freestyle, as Blom followed up his comeback win Saturday with a 29-second win in the event with a 5:04.00. Loupee said there are hopes that when Blom tapers ahead of districts he could swim sub-5:00.00 and make the state tournament. Stalzer finished third in 5:34.39. Benscoter, Seberger, Hunt and Barker won in the 200-yard freestyle relay, swimming a 1:32.60.

Petty won with a time of 59.21 in the 100-yard backstroke. Loupee split up his normal A and B 400-yard freestyle relay teams and set them up with the fastest swimmers at the end, emulating chase-down drills they run in practice. After being behind by a distance to Mason City’s A team through 200 yards, the B team of Cohen Thatcher, Hunt, Benscoter and Seberger chased the Mohawks down and flew to victory, with Stalzer, Petty, Blom and Barker close behind.

Loupee said the Bobcats once again stepped up to the individual challenges faced before them, adding that it was surprising to see just how fast the group was.

“There were a number of times where Coach [Leah] Barkema and I were watching a guy swim and we were commenting, ‘He looks flat, he looks tired.’ Then we’re seeing the split and go, ‘Whoa!’ It gets me excited for what’s coming in the next two-or-three weeks and I hope it has the boys excited.”

The Bobcats have until Saturday to prepare for the CIML Iowa Conference meet, hosted at the Marshalltown YMCA. The event starts at noon, and afterwards tapering will begin for the swimmers who are making the trip to Johnston for districts.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

At Marshalltown

Marshalltown 67, Southeast Polk 27

Marshalltown 68, Mason City 26

Southeast Polk 49, Mason City 45

EVENT RESULTS

(Champion plus MHS placewinners)

200 MEDLEY RELAY — 1. MHS A (Petty, Benscoter, Blom, Hunt) 1:51.12; 3. MHS B (Thatcher, Kodis, Jones, Case) 1:57.32.

200 FREESTYLE — 1. Ethan Bescoter, MHS, 1:56.16; 2. Dane Petty, MHS, 1:57.12.

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — 1. Marcus Barker, MHS, 2:04.55; 2. Stephen Blom, MHS, 2:08.53.

50 FREESTYLE — 1. Aaron Seberger, MHS, 22.61; 4. JP Jones, MHS, 24.65.

100 FLY — 1. Trevor Torkelson, MCHS, 54.90; 3. Jones, MHS, 1:00.31, 5. Kaden Case, MHS, 1:09.93.

100 FREESTYLE — 1. Seberger, MHS, 49.70; 2. Carter Hunt, MHS, 53.80.

500 FREESTYLE — 1. Blom, MHS, 5:04.00; 3. Drake Stalzer, MHS, 5:34.39.

200 FREESTYLE RELAY — 1. MHS A (Benscoter, Seberger, Hunt, Barker) 1:32.60.

100 BACKSTROKE — 1. Petty, MHS, 59.21; 5. Case, MHS, 1:10.94.

100 BREASTSTROKE — 1. Ryan Korthals, MCHS, 1:03.28; 2. Barker, MHS, 1:06.02.

400 FREESTYLE RELAY — 1. MHS B (Thatcher, Hunt, Benscoter, Seberger) 3:31.59; 2. MHS A (Stalzer, Petty, Blom, Barker) 3:33.65.