Indiana High School Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2027

On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Indiana High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2027, a group of 22 swimmers and divers, four coaches and three special award recipients whose achievements span more than eight decades of Indiana high school swimming and diving. The class will be formally inducted on April 18, 2027, in Indianapolis.

This class of honorees reaches from Terre Haute Wiley’s Harley Pritchett, who competed in the early 1940s, to a remarkable wave of athletes from the 2010s who went on to star at the collegiate, national and international levels, including Olympic gold medalists Lilly King of Evansville F.J. Reitz and Blake Pieroni of Chesterton and Olympic silver medalist Sarah Bacon of Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter.

Carmel leads all schools with three inductees in the class.

“This class tells the story of what Indiana high school swimming and diving has become,” Hall of Fame President Jennifer Kelsik said. “These athletes didn’t just win state titles; many went on to wear the Stars and Stripes, stand on international podiums and compete against the very best in the world. When we say this class represents some of the finest Indiana has produced, we also mean it represents some of the finest the United States and the world have seen. Their selection for the Hall of Fame, along with our coaches and honorees, is more than recognition of what they accomplished. It is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication, commitment, leadership and excellence that helped shape the sport for generations to follow.”

Locally, seven inductees and honorees are included:

Class of 2027 Swimmers and Divers

• Claire Adams, Carmel (2013–16) – 8 individual and 8 relay state titles, 12 state records and 4 national relay records and Mental Attitude Award.
• Amy Bilquist, Carmel (2014–15) – 4 individual and 4 relay state titles 8 state records and 4 national relay records
• Veronica Burchill, Carmel (2013–16) – 3 individual and 12 relay state titles, 7 state records and 6 national relay records
• Kyle DeCoursey, Zionsville (2012–15) – 3 individual state titles with a state record and one relay state title

Class of 2027 Coaches

• Stephen P. Hoeferle, Hamilton Heights (1998–2024); North Central (2024–present) – coached divers to a 1-2 finish at the state championships twice as well as three additional diving state champions and a state record that still stands.
• Jess Preston, Penn (2008–2024); Noblesville (2024–present) – coached swimmers to 11 individual state titles with 2 state records, 3 relay titles and 3 team runners-up titles.

Special Award Honorees

• Doc Counsilman Award: Jay Chambers – Chambers built a coaching career spanning nearly four decades in Indiana, leading programs at West Lafayette Harrison (1980–1986), Zionsville (1986–1989), and Fishers (2010–2017) before joining USA Swimming in 2017, where he continues to serve today.

About the Indiana High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame
The Indiana High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame honors the athletes, coaches, and special contributors who have made a lasting impact on high school swimming and diving in Indiana. Through its annual induction class and the Hall of Fame Classic, the organization works to recognize, preserve, and promote the sport’s history in the state. Nominations for future classes are accepted year-round; more information is available at ihssdhof.org.