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Bettendorf boys swimming team favored to take league, district meet titles

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By Andrew Petersen | Friday, February 1, 2008 2:32 AM CST | () comments

Mike Ahrens would love to say he foresaw the eventual success of this year’s Bettendorf boys swimming team.

But the truth is, he was worried after last year’s state championship. With so many seniors graduating that spring, Ahrens didn’t know how high to place expectations.

“Last year wouldn’t have put us in this position at all,” he said. “I was dreading losing those kids.”

Yet this season’s Bulldogs are just as menacing for opposing teams. A glut of immensely improved swimmers makes Bettendorf the overwhelming favorite entering Saturday’s Mississippi Athletic Conference/District swim meet.

“I really think last year my JV kids watched throughout (last) season and saw where we were going to lose people and saw where they could pick up the slack,” Ahrens said.

Joey Dickens, Colin Gerse, Tom Henson and Tyler Ambrozi are four newcomers whose value Ahrens can’t overstate. Ambrozi wasn’t even in the district lineup a year ago, and Ahrens expects the senior to continue on to next week’s state meet.

“We’re not as balanced,” Ahrens said. “But our top-end guys might be a little stronger.”

Pleasant Valley already has a dual loss to Bettendorf this season, but the Spartans figure to be one of the top teams Saturday.

PV coach Jeanene Keller is satisfied.

“I think we’re right where we need to be,” she said. “The whole purpose of the meet at this point will be to prepare for state. Our district is extremely strong, which I think works to our advantage.”

Drawn from the state’s six districts, the top 24 times in each event will advance to the state in Marshalltown.

Andrew Petersen can be reached at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com.