![Bass Clef Choir members Zion Ondoma, Henry Hansen, and Zerik Nicholson harmonize vocals while singing "Prayer of the Children". “[It’s] a piece dealing with the Bosnian conflicts of the ‘90s,” said Associate Director of Choral Activities Matthew Jensen, “but is applicable to what's happening today all over the world.” The students will perform the song during Large Group Contests in Cedar Falls in May.](https://riverhawkpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260414_111618-1200x554.jpg)
The Mason City Riverhawks are bringing four athletes from the swim team to Iowa City’s University of Iowa campus to compete at the state competition. The Riverhawks are coming into this state meet knowing the future is bright for the team, as the program set a new record of 49 athletes in the program this season. That’s the most in the program since 1969, when the program had 39 athletes.
“It’s a good challenge to have a large team,” said Coach Steve Hugo, who’s been coaching for the swim team for 41 years. “All [varsity and junior varsity] positions are filled. Me and Coach [Marten] VanAusdal have to do a lot of skill building. Most have to learn the skills of race swimming, so there is a lot of competition in practice,” said Hugo.
The athletes participating in the state meet this weekend are Brock Anderson, Zayd Hanafi, Michael Johnson, and Mason Labby. All of them are taking part in the Medley Relay. Johnson and Hanafi are also competing in the Individual 50 and 100-Meter Freestyles.
“My hope is to PR [personal record], get a better time in the 50 and 100 (meter), and of course bring down our time in the medley relay,” said Michael Johnson.
Johnson also said he just wants to enjoy the weekend.
“It was hard for me last year because I was the only one who went [to state], but this year, since we have this group of four guys, it’s gonna be a lot more fun,” said Johnson.
Junior Brock Anderson, who was originally on the boys basketball team for the Riverhawks, joined the swimming team this year as a way to stay active while recovering from a torn ACL, which he suffered during the 2025 tennis season. Anderson says he has surprised many people with his natural ability to swim and in his first year, Anderson was on varsity but also made state.
“Honestly, I just didn’t expect to have as much success as I did,” Anderson said, “It’s just really cool that I was able to transition to sports like that after an injury and still be able to be successful.”
Preliminary heats begin at 5pm February 13. Finals will begin 12:30 on Saturday February 14.
