IGHSAU's 5-year contract extension with the Marshalltown Y signed in 2017 was extended through this year, but decision hasn't been made for the future
For the past 20 years, the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA's Linda Bloom Natatorium has been the host facility for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's state swimming and diving championships.
This year's meet, set for Nov. 15-16, could end up being the last at the facility. Or it could be coming back.
That decision has yet to be made, according to IGHSAU associate director Jason Eslinger, who is the IGHSAU's swimming and diving administrator.
A five-year contract extension with the Marshalltown Y signed in 2017 was extended through this year.
The meet, held in Fort Dodge from 1974-2003, has been in Marshalltown since the Y facility opened in 2004. The Iowa High School Athletic Association boys' state swim meet also was held there until 2017. At that time, the boys' meet, held each year in February, moved to the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center pool.
One reason cited at the time for the boys' move was to give the swimmers a state-of-the-art pool that would result in faster times.
Eslinger said in an email that no decisions have been made on a site for 2025 and beyond. He also said no timetable has been established for a final decision.
"We have had some facilities inquire about the status of our contract," he said in the email, "but that is all we have received at this point."
He added that the IGHSAU has a great relationship with the current hosts.
"Marshalltown has been a fantastic site for our event for the last 21 years," Eslinger said.
One venue that could be interested in hosting the meet is the new Waukee Schools Natatorium, which opened in August. The facility houses separate pools for Waukee and Waukee Northwest high schools.
The venue can support two full 25-yard, eight-lane competitions simultaneously. Additionally, a 25-yard, four-lane warm-up pool also is available.
Another potential option is Iowa City, but for that to happen it would likely force the meet to be held on alternate days of the week in years Iowa football is playing at home.
The IGHSAU has relocated two state events over the last 11 years. Volleyball moved from Cedar Rapids to Coralville in 2022. Soccer went from Muscatine to Des Moines in 2013 and will shift to Ames in 2025.
Iowa City High's Grace Hoeper looks poised to add more state titles to her resume.
The Little Hawks senior, who attends Solon, has the best time in two events over the first three weeks of the season. The two-time defending state champ in the 50-yard freestyle and last year's winner in the 100 free, has the top times so far this year in the 200 free (1:55.08) and the 100 butterfly (56.75) as of Monday.
She has committed to swim collegiately at Indiana.
Iowa City West sophomore Hannah Geng is fourth in the 200 free (1:58.07). Teammate Gretchen Gerke is fourth in the 500 free (5:23.46).
The only other area swimmer among the top five is Cedar Rapids Washington freshman Jada Ripke (fourth in the 100 backstroke, 1:00.85).
Waukee Northwest headlines a 13-team field at Saturday's Linn-Mar Swimming and Diving Invitational.
The meet starts at 9 a.m. at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center.
Northwest is in its first season as a standalone team after sharing a program with Waukee for its first three years as a school. The combined program won the 2023 state championship.
Coach Shelley Twigg, who coached the combined team last year at Waukee, is leading the Wolves this season. They are led by senior Willa Hage, who won state titles in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke last year.
Other top teams in the field include 2023 state runner-up West Des Moines Dowling, Ames, Cedar Falls and Pleasant Valley.