Iowa City West wins state swimming title

Defending champions hold off Linn-Mar in close competition

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Iowa City West High School boys swimming team won the state championship on Saturday, February 14, 2026, narrowly defeating rival Linn-Mar High School in a close competition at the IHSAA state meet in Iowa City.

Why it matters

Iowa City West has been a dominant force in high school swimming in the state, winning multiple titles in recent years. This latest victory continues their reign as one of the top programs and solidifies their status as the team to beat in Iowa swimming.

The details

The meet came down to the final events, with Iowa City West edging out Linn-Mar by a slim margin. Key performances from swimmers like Link Ortman and Winston Fan helped secure the win for the defending champions.

  • The IHSAA boys swimming state meet took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Iowa City.
  • Iowa City West has won multiple state titles in recent years prior to this latest victory.

The players

Link Ortman

A standout swimmer for the Iowa City West High School boys team.

Winston Fan

Another key contributor to the Iowa City West boys swimming team's state championship victory.

Linn-Mar High School

The runner-up team that pushed Iowa City West to the limit in the state championship meet.

IHSAA

The Iowa High School Athletic Association, which oversees high school sports competitions in the state.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had a big hill to climb,”

— Link Ortman, Iowa City West swimmer (The Gazette)

What’s next

Iowa City West will look to defend their state title again next year, while Linn-Mar will aim to unseat the champions.

The takeaway

Iowa City West's continued dominance in high school swimming underscores the strength of their program and the intense rivalry between the top teams in the state.