Eli Randall

AMES — The Marshalltown boys’ swimming squad started the new season with the toughest dual on its schedule, falling to perennial powerhouse Ames, 115-55.

The Little Cyclones won 10 of 11 events in the Iowa Alliance Conference dual meet, save for the 100-yard butterfly. That race belonged to Bobcat freshman Eli Randall, who racked up the victory in a time of 1 minute, 3.59 seconds.

“The coaching staff is very pleased with the grit and effort the boys showed tonight,” said first-year head coach Ray Dulaney. “Many boys were put in tough situations with short turnarounds as well as different or new events. They attacked them with effort and competitiveness.”

Seven more Marshalltown entrants earned second-place finishes, starting with the 200 medley relay team of Aaron Hunter, Parker Christen, Randall and Jack Nelson (1:51.56). Ames won the first race of the night by just 95-hundredths of a second.

Kade Randall followed with silver in the 200 individual medley.

Jacob Seberger scored second in the 50 freestyle (24.12), just 11-hundredths back of Clayton Marks of Ames.

The Bobcats’ 200 freestyle relay foursome of Seberger, Christen and the Randall brothers trailed Ames by just 1.86 seconds (1:38.21), and Hunter took second in the 100 backstroke.

Seberger and Christen went 2-3 in the 100 breaststroke, and the 400 freestyle relay quartet of Kade Randall, Thomas Stanley, Joe Greazel and Seberger finished the meet with a second-place finish (3:52.91).

“We finished the night with 19 lifetime bests and many more times not far off,” Dulaney said. “This is a testament to the boys’ work so far this season and the work they have put in since the end of last year. I am excited to see this team keep growing during this season.”

Marshalltown’s next dual meet is Thursday, Dec. 4, at home against Des Moines Roosevelt.