2025 IHSAA Boys State Swimming Championships
- February 14-15, 2025
- University of Iowa Aquatic Center
- SCY (25 Yards)
- Live Results or MeetMobile: “2025 IHSAA State Swimming Meet”
Dubuque Hempstead won its first swimming state championship in program history last month. At the 2025 Iowa High School Boys State Swimming Championship, the team was powered by sprint freestyle depth for its first title, scoring 213.5 points to win this year’s state crown. Iowa City West was the runner-up with 181 points, edging ahead of Waukee’s 177.5 points for third.
Dubuque Hempstead’s Day Out
The Dubuque Hempstead boys did a strong job during the prelims session, putting swimmers through to the majority of the ‘A’ finals in individual events. The highlights for the team came in the sprint freestyle events as seniors Owen Leitzen and Kyle Powers finished 3rd and 4th in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Letizen won bronze in the 50 freestyle (20.81), and Powers in the 100 freestyle (45.73).
Dubuque Hempstead was the only school with two ‘A’ finalists in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, which the team translated into wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay. Powers and Leitzen combined with Mason Lemm and Logan Westhoff in the shorter relay, clocking 1:23.35 for the team’s first title of the championship. Later, Westoff, Powers, and Leitzen swam with Jake Dolphin on the 400 freestyle relay, swimming 3:05.04 to win the 400 freestyle relay title and close the championships on a high note.
It was these relays and depth that helped the team claim its historic title, as they did not win any individual events at the championships.
Double Individual Event Winners
Junior Parker Macho seniors Hayden Hakes and Finn Martin each won two individual events. Macho, who swims for Linn-Mar and is committed to Cincinnati, won the 200 IM/100 butterfly double. He swam lifetime bests for both wins, clocking 1:48.46 in the 200 IM and 47.97 in the 100 butterfly.
Hakes won the 200 and 500 freestyle at the final meet of his high school career. He swam lifetime bests in both, first taking the 200 freestyle in 1:37.29. Then, he was back on the blocks for the 500 freestyle. He dominated the event, winning by almost ten seconds with a 4:25.54.
Hakes, committed to Arizona State, also contributed to Iowa City’s 200 medley relay win that opened the championships. He swam the butterfly leg, while Ethan Landon swam backstroke, Winston Fan breaststroke, and Oliver Mikulski freestyle. The quartet swam 1:30.48, coming .17 seconds from the state record the program set last year.
While Hakes controlled the 200/500 freestyle, senior Finn Martin was the double winner in the sprint freestyle events. The Notre Dame commit popped a lifetime best 20.19 to win the 50 freestyle, missing the state record—which was set in 2016—by four-hundredths. Later, he won the 100 freestyle with a 44.64 lifetime best.
More Event Winners
Waukee Northwest senior Dylan Alt won the 100 backstroke. He finished fifth in the event last year. This year, he led from start to finish, clocking a lifetime best 49.25 and holding off Teagen Reeze, who swam 49.44 for second place.
Kiefer Roemer won the 100 breaststroke, the final individual event. The Bettendorf senior swam a lifetime best 53.92 to get his hands on the wall first, upgrading from bronze last year.
Para Results
Para swimmers also raced exhibition at the championships. Sioux City sophomore Jaiden Lovelace won the para 100 and 200 freestyle. He swam 1:22.72 in the 100 freestyle and 3:00.05 in the 200 freestyle. Atlantic sophomore Teagan Kinzie touched first in the 50 freestyle with a 1:32.05.
The 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke were also offered for para swimmers, though the results are not available on the live results.
Final Standings (Top 5)
- Dubuque Hempstead — 213.5
- Iowa City West — 181
- Waukee — 177.5
- Linn-Mar — 172
- Waukee Northwest — 152
