Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Over the past four seasons Carly Weigel has been a stalwart in the lineup for the City High swim team.

A multi-event state qualifier each of the past three seasons Weigel has built a solid swimming resume during the first three years of her prep career.

Never has Weigel been better than she has in the opening several weeks of her senior season.

Weigel has gone unbeaten in individual events this season while posting team-best times in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

“I’m probably ahead of where I’ve ever been at this point in the season,” Weigel said. “Last year I took a pretty long break between club swimming and high school and this year I haven’t had that and I haven’t faltered as much. I feel like I’m in a very good spot.”

Success is nothing new to Weigel.

She made a splash in her freshman season reaching the state meet in three events including the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

The last two seasons Weigel has been a four-event state qualifier and has improved her place in every single state event she has competed in each season.

“Carly was pretty quick coming in as a freshman but she always thinking about her technique in practice and thinking about what she can do just a little bit better,” City High coach Zane Hugo said. “While she works really hard when she is supposed to, she is always thinking about her form and her technique and her efficiency in the water even when we aren’t asking her to do it. That’s why she sees continual improvement.”

Last season was Weigel’s best as she posted career-best finishes in the 100 freestyle (fifth) and 100 backstroke (eighth) at the state meet.

Weigel also helped City High to a pair of top-10 relay finishes including a third-place mark in the 200 medley.

“I’ve worked a ton on my underwaters, that’s been for me probably the biggest things,” Weigel said. “I’ve always been good at swimming but I turn and then I’d been behind everyone else. I’ve been working a lot on turns and underwaters and I think that’s gotten me to where I am now.”

In her final season of prep swimming Weigel believes she is in the best spot of her career and she has the performances to back it up.

Weigel hit the state meet qualifying standard in the 100 backstroke in a dual meet last week with a time of 1:00.25, the 10th fastest in the state this season.

“I wasn’t thinking about state when I swam I was just thinking about going fast,” Weigel said. “I didn’t know the qualifying times so I wasn’t shooting for it but it was a nice thing to hear and a nice thing to get.”

Weigel has always been a leader in the pool for the Little Hawks but this season her leadership extends out of the water.

Once a soft-spoken freshman Weigel is now a senior captain and vocal leader for the Little Hawks.

“She has really grown her confidence throughout her high school career,” Hugo said. “She was a pretty good freshman qualifying for state but she was soft spoken. Every year she has had a little bit more to say and the right things to say but she also has the respect of everyone so even though she is soft spoken they all listen to her.”

The leadership and success from Weigel has helped City High get off to a strong start as a team.

City High is unbeaten in dual meets with wins over Dubuque Hempstead, Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

The dual meet success has added another layer of excitement to the final season of Weigel’s career.

“Four years ago I think we had a few people winning events and now we have a lot of great swimmers that have come and joined,” Weigel said. “Everyone contributes to us and that makes it a lot of fun. Winning against teams that we haven’t won against before is pretty cool.”

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