Newton Swimmer Finn Martin Wins State 50-Yard Freestyle Title

Newton/Pella Swimmers Earn Four Podium Finishes at State Meet

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Finn Martin, a three-time state champion in the 50-yard freestyle, won this year's title with a new state record time of 20.06 seconds at the Iowa State Boys Swimming Meet. The Newton/Pella swim team also earned three other podium finishes, including two seventh-place relay team performances.

Why it matters

Martin's continued dominance in the 50-yard freestyle event solidifies his status as one of the top high school swimmers in Iowa. The strong overall performance by the Newton/Pella swim team shows the program's depth and competitiveness at the state level.

The details

In addition to his 50-yard freestyle title, Martin finished second in the 100-yard freestyle. Teammates Caleb Punt, Ethan Comer, and Hudson Meyer joined Martin on two seventh-place relay teams - the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay. Comer and Meyer also competed in individual events but did not advance to the finals.

  • Finn Martin won the 50-yard freestyle state title on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The Iowa State Boys Swimming Meet took place on February 14-15, 2026.

The players

Finn Martin

A three-time state champion in the 50-yard freestyle event for the Newton/Pella swim team.

Caleb Punt

A member of the Newton/Pella swim team who competed in the 50-yard freestyle B Final.

Ethan Comer

A member of the Newton/Pella swim team who competed in the 100-yard breaststroke preliminaries.

Hudson Meyer

A member of the Newton/Pella swim team who competed in the 100-yard backstroke preliminaries.

Lucas Warner

The coach of the Newton/Pella swim team, who was previously on the school's 200-yard medley relay team that placed on the podium.

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What they’re saying

“Three-time state champion, that's pretty special. Finn has worked hard to get to this point and deserves all the success he's had.”

— Lucas Warner, Head Coach, Newton/Pella Swim Team (kniakrls.com)

What’s next

Finn Martin will look to defend his 50-yard freestyle state title again next year as a senior, while the Newton/Pella swim team aims to build on their strong performance at the 2026 state meet.

The takeaway

Finn Martin's continued dominance in the 50-yard freestyle event, combined with the overall success of the Newton/Pella swim team at the state meet, demonstrates the program's ability to develop elite-level talent and compete at the highest level in Iowa high school swimming.