Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy

The third biggest sports story at Hillcrest Academy from the most recent school year takes us to the pool, at Iowa City West. The Ravens have a sharing agreement for the activity with the Trojans and a pair of student athletes from Hillcrest were part of the program’s success at the state level this year.

Junior Gabe Bruns was a member of the Iowa City West boys team this year. West was unbeaten during the junior varsity and varsity regular season, winning the Mississippi Valley Conference Championship meet. The Trojans qualified for the state meet in all 11 events hosted at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center in Marion. West finished third in the team standings with 208.5 points. Waukee won the state championship with 268.5 points. The Trojans were event champions of the 200 medley relay with a team of Boyd Skelley, Jordan Christensen, Holden Carter and Luke Nichols in 1:32.24.

Hillcrest freshman Julia Ortiz-Luna was a member of the Women of Troy swim team. West was unbeaten at the junior varsity and varsity levels in the regular season, winning the Valley conference title. The Women of Troy set a program record, finishing as state runners-up, winning six event state championships, including the 200 yard freestyle, 200 yard freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 100 yard backstroke, and 100 butterfly. West set all-time state records in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 400 freestyle relay and 500 freestyle.