Ames Boys Swimming Heads to State, Aims to Honor Retiring Coach Fisher

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Ames boys swimming team heads to the IHSAA state meet this week with a clear objective: send coach Joe Fisher out on a high note. Fisher, who has been a fixture in the Ames swimming community since the late 1990s, is retiring after the competition concludes on February 13-14 at the University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Nine Little Cyclones qualified for the state meet following the district competition at the Dan Flannery Pool on February 7. While Ames finished third at the district meet, behind Dowling Catholic and Boone, the team demonstrated consistent performance, earning bids in six individual events and all three relays. “I thought we had some great swims today,” Fisher said. “Our youngsters, first time ever in a district meet, swam great. We got some really good swims in our 200 and 500 events and our relays improved on the year. We had almost 100% lifetime bests.”

The team’s success isn’t necessarily measured in potential championship contention, but in individual achievement and a collective desire to honor their coach. Ames isn’t expected to be among the top teams at the state meet, nor are they projected to contend for individual or relay titles. Instead, the focus is on personal bests and a strong showing for Fisher, who took over both the boys’ and girls’ programs in 2020 after serving as an assistant coach from 2013 to 2019.

Leading the charge for Ames is Jack Fowler, who qualified in both the 200 freestyle (21st out of 32 qualifiers with a time of 1:49.28) and the 500 freestyle (16th with a 4:55.76). Fowler expressed satisfaction with his district performance. “It was a good meet for me,” he said. “I’m happy with today.”

Freshman Owen Van Der Linden will join Fowler in both the 200 freestyle (22nd, 1:49.52) and the 500 freestyle (26th, 5:01.85), marking an impressive debut at the district level. Senior Jonathan Ryken also secured a spot in the 200 freestyle, qualifying 29th with a time of 1:59.02.

Beyond the freestyle events, Brandon Terry will compete in the 200 individual medley, holding the 17th-fastest qualifying time at 2:00.95. Davis Cowan, a senior swimmer, earned his place in the 100 breaststroke with the 15th-best time of 1:00.37.

The relays also contributed to Ames’ strong showing at the district meet. The 400 freestyle relay team, comprised of Terry, Van Der Linden, Fowler, and Ryken, qualified 20th with a time of 3:23.01. The 200 medley relay team of Kane Hall, Cowan, Silas Erickson, and freshman Clayton Marks secured 21st place with a time of 1:42.61. The 200 freestyle relay team of Terry, Van Der Linden, Marks, and Fowler rounded out the qualifiers, earning 23rd place with a time of 1:31.90.

Fisher’s tenure at Ames has been marked by a commitment to building a strong swimming program and fostering a positive team environment. He stepped into the head coaching role following the passing of Dan Flannery, a legendary figure in Ames swimming, and has continued to uphold the program’s tradition of excellence. “Joe Fisher has been a staple in the Ames swimming community since the late 1990s, whether as an athlete or a coach,” said Ames Athletic Director Lyle Fedders.

As Fisher prepares for his final state meet, the Ames swimmers are motivated to deliver their best performances. “We want to do as well as we can next week,” Terry said. “That’d be great for him.” Fisher himself is looking forward to the competition, not just for the potential for improved times, but for the overall atmosphere. “I’m looking forward to watching the meet in general,” Fisher said. “I think Notice going to be some great races.”

The state meet represents not just the culmination of a season, but the end of an era for Ames swimming. The Little Cyclones will undoubtedly strive to make it a memorable one for their retiring coach.