At the halfway point of the post-season, the Carmel girls swim team is in good position to keep its state championship streak going.
The Greyhounds swept through their own sectional on Saturday, scoring 594 team points to win the team championship, their 37th in a row and 38th overall. Carmel won all 12 events and qualified all 27 of its swims for the state preliminaries, which take place Friday afternoon at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
The ‘Hounds set three new sectional records on Saturday. The medley relay team of Berit Berglund, MacKenna Lieske, Margaret Love and Colleen Duffy won that race in 1:42.40, while the 400 free relay team of Gretchen Lueking, Erin Cummins, Hayley Reed and Madelyn Christman set a new mark in that event of 3:26.52.
Right before the 400 free relay was an exceptionally fast breaststroke. The top four swims were all under the old record of 1:03.27. Love won the race in a time of 1:01.60, followed by Lieske in 1:02.88. Noblesville’s Sammy Huff, the defending state champion in the breaststroke, placed third in 1:02.94 and Vivian Wilson took fourth in 1:02.99. All four were well below the state cut time of 1:05.40.
Carmel’s other event victories came from Lueking in the 200 free and butterfly, Madelyn Christman in the individual medley, Meghan Christman in the 50 free and 100 free, Wilson in the 500 free, Berglund in the backstroke and the 200 free relay team of Meghan Christman, Love, Lieske and Paris Christie. Alaina Heyde won the diving event, which was contested on Friday night.
“We’re in a great position going into next week,” said Greyhounds coach Chris Plumb. “We had girls really step up.” He gave an example in Wilson, who Plumb estimate dropped 10 seconds in her 500 free race and two or three seconds in her breaststroke.
“All around they did a good job today,” said Plumb.
Noblesville edged out Westfield for second place, scoring 374 points to the Shamrocks’ 361. The Millers had five swims qualify for state, all under the cut time. In addition to Huff, Caitlin Marshall advanced in the butterfly and 500 free. Noblesville’s medley relay team of Sophie Resner, Huff, Marshall and Maya McDonald and 400 free relay team of Resner, Claire Yeakey, Marshall and Huff also qualified.
“I think it was a great meet,” said Millers coach Aleks Fansler. “I think that’s one of the strongest meets I think our girls have put together in a long time. I think it says a lot for our girls how well they banded together.”
The Shamrocks were led by their relays, all three of which placed third. The medley relay consisted of Alexa Boillat, Annie Spaletto, Hannah Jones and Macy Hoaglan, the 200 free relay was swam by Spaletto, Madison Putt, Ava Friedman and Hoaglan, while the team of Boillat, Friedman, Jones and Isabella Amaya competed in the 400 free relay. There is, of course, always the possibility that some of Westfield’s swims may receive callbacks to the state meet.
“It was a great meet,” said Westfield coach Darrick Thomas. “It was nice. I think the biggest thing is that we were able to get to the finish line and have a championship meet for these girls.”
Guerin Catholic finished seventh as a team with 113 points. The Golden Eagles’ best finish was fourth in the 400 free relay, swam by Erica Hunckler, Erin Reynon, Olivia Kunkel and Bridgette Keller.
AT CARMEL
Team scores: Carmel 594, Noblesville 374, Westfield 361, Northwestern 186, Tipton 165, Kokomo 139, Guerin Catholic 113, Western 99, Maconaquah 86, Eastern 59.
200 medley relay (state cut 1:42.40)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Berit Berglund, MacKenna Lieske, Margaret Love, Colleen Duffy) 1:42.40, new sectional record, 2. Noblesville (Sophie Resner, Sammy Huff, Caitlin Marshall, Maya McDonald) 1:46.39, 3. Westfield (Alexa Boillat, Annie Spaletto, Hannah Jones, Macy Hoaglan) 1:48.90, 7. Guerin Catholic (Erica Hunckler, Kate Swack, Olivia Kunkel, Erin Reynon) 2:00.22.
200 freestyle (state cut 1:53.26)
“A” Final: 1. Gretchen Lueking (C) 1:48.94, 2. Hayley Reed (C) 1:51.25, 3. Erin Cummins (C) 1:52.66, 4. Hoaglan (W) 1:54.90, 6. Claire Yeakey (N) 1:57.82, 7. Resner (N) 1:57.94, 8. Caroline Santerre (N) 2:02.97.
“B” Final: 9. Isabella Amaya (W) 2:02.56, 11. Bridgette Keller (GC) 2:04.19, 12. Kate Peck (W) 2:06.60.
200 individual medley (state cut 2:07.02)
“A” Final: 1. Madelyn Christman (C) 2:03.08, 2. Lieske (C) 2:03.11, 3. Keira Kask (C) 2:03.31, 4. Huff (N) 2:07.23, 5. Spaletto (W) 2:13.46, 7. Ellie Ketchum (W) 2:17.63.
“B” Final: 9. Reagan Hart (N) 2:16.55, 11. Sara Fife (N) 2:20.37, 13. Alex Irvin (W) 2:28.66.
50 freestyle (state cut 23.97)
“A” Final: 1. Meghan Christman (C) 22.81, 2. Duffy (C) 23.06, 3. Love (C) 23.68, 5. Hunckler (GC) 24.56, 6. McDonald (N) 24.80, 7. Abby Harvey (W) 25.00, 8. Madison Putt (W) 25.30.
“B” Final: 9. Ava Friedman (W) 25.52, 11. Amelia Field (N) 26.05, 12. Olivia Bell (W) 26.29.
One-meter diving (top four advance to regional)
Finals: 1. Alaina Heyde (C) 473.95, 2. Darci Commons (C) 387.95, 4. Melania Munson (C) 362.95, 5. Ally Doyle (W) 319.20, 10. Deirdre Leib (N) 266.20, 12. Alyssa Schwartz (W) 241.40, 13. Sydney Pitchford (W) 239.40, 16. Ava Pavich (N) 214.35.
100 butterfly (state cut 56.72)
“A” Final: 1. Lueking (C) 54.70, 2. Reed (C) 54.76, 3. Marshall (N) 56.64, 4. Parker Kurzawa (C) 56.71, 5. Jones (W) 59.16, 6. Boillat (W) 59.27, 7. Putt (W) 1:00.26, 8. Jordan Cooley (N) 1:00.89.
“B” Final: 9. Emily Knott (N) 1:01.67, 12. Kunkel (GC) 1:06.00, 14. Reynon (GC) 1:11.38, 15. Ally Keller (GC) 1:12.06.
100 freestyle (state cut 52.24)
“A” Final: 1. Me. Christman (C) 50.38, 2. Berglund (C) 51.20, 3. Kask (C) 52.22, 5. Hoaglan (W) 53.35, 6. Hunckler (GC) 53.89, 7. Yeakey (N) 55.14.
“B” Final: 9. Harvey (N) 55.29, 10. Friedman (W) 55.74, 12. Field (N) 57.15, 13. Elizabeth Marti (W) 58.46.
500 freestyle (state cut 5:05.73)
“A” Final: 1. Vivian Wilson (C) 4:55.88, 2. Cummins (C) 5:02.29, 3. Ashlea Swingewood (C) 5:03.74, 4. Marshall (N) 5:04.14, 5. Isabella Amaya (W) 5:27.51, 6. B. Keller (GC) 5:31.99, 7. Ketchum (W) 5:32.85, 8. Peck (W) 5:33.39.
“B” Final: 9. Hart (N) 5:33.27, 10. Katie Kramer (W) 5:36.23.
200 freestyle relay (state cut 1:39.28)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Me. Christman, Love, Lieske, Paris Christie) 1:34.88, 2. Noblesville (Harvey, Yeakey, Santerre, McDonald) 1:39.52, 3. Westfield (Spaletto, Putt, Friedman, Hoaglan) 1:41.17, Guerin Catholic DQ.
100 backstroke (state cut 57.23)
“A” Final: 1. Berglund (C) 53.89, 2. Duffy (C) 55.23, 3. Ma. Christman (C) 55.79, 4. Resner (N) 58.56, 5. Boillat (W) 59.44, 6. Cooley (N) 1:01.17, 7. Santerre (N) 1:01.35.
“B” Final: 9. Bell (W) 1:02.32, 10. Jones (W) 1:03.92.
100 breaststroke (state cut 1:05.40)
“A” Final: 1. Love (C) 1:01.60, new sectional record, 2. Lieske (C) 1:02.88, under old sectional record, 3. Huff (N) 1:02.94, under old sectional record, 4. Wilson (C) 1:02.99, under old sectional record, 5. McDonald (N) 1:06.30, 8. Spaletto (W) 1:09.38.
400 freestyle relay (state cut 3:35.82)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Lueking, Cummins, Reed, Ma. Christman) 3:26.52, new sectional record, 2. Noblesville (Resner, Yeakey, Marshall, Huff) 3:34.07, 3. Westfield (Boillat, Friedman, Jones, Amaya) 3:45.18, 4. Guerin Catholic (Hunckler, Reynon, Kunkel, B. Keller) 3:56.13.
Fishers won its third consecutive sectional championship Saturday, edging out Hamilton Southeastern 540-503 in the Tigers’ pool.
Fishers won seven events and had six more swims under the state cut, giving the Tigers a total of 13 swims heading to state. The Royals won the other five events and qualified eight in all to state.
JoJo Ramey was a double winner in the 200 free and 500 free, with Kate Mouser placing first in the IM. Morgan Casey won diving, she and her teammates Natalie Bryan and Gretchen Osmun went 1-2-3 in that event to advance to Tuesday’s regional at Southeastern. Also victorious for Fishers were Kalli Agapios in the backstroke, Lydia Reade in the breaststroke and the 400 free relay team of Mouser, Charlie Ramey, Avery Stein and JoJo Ramey.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the IM, with Reade second and Lux third, and also swept the top three in the breaststroke with Lux second and Mackenzie Pierce third. All were under the state cut time. Fishers’ medley relay team of JoJo Ramey, Lux, Alexandra Stein and Agapios and 200 free relay team of Agapios, Avery Stein, Alexandra Stein and Charlie Ramey, also qualified by time.
“I thought the girls stepped up and performed, and what we challenged them with today is pressure is a privilege,” said Tigers coach Joe Keller. “There’s opportunity in that, so we encouraged them to embrace it and look forward to that opportunity to succeed.”
The Royals began the meet with a medley relay victory, with Rebecca Ang, Kennedy Fisher, Audrey Crawford and Molly Pedersen competing in that event. Southeastern also won the 200 free relay, with Fisher, Grace Newton, Ashley Saple and Pedersen on that team.
In individual victories, Saple triumphed in the 50 free, Crawford placed first in the butterfly, with Pedersen winning the 100 free. Crawford also qualified by state cut in the IM, as did Fisher in the breaststroke. The Royals’ 400 free relay team of Saple, Crawford, Newton and Pedersen also earned a state cut time. Ella Penny placed fourth in the diving and will advance to Tuesday’s regional.
“It’s always tough to lose a sectional meet – especially by a narrow margin, and this one was somewhat unique because the Lady Royals performance today was so outstanding,” said Southeastern coach Andy Pedersen. “Our girls swam and dove really well – exceptionally well as a matter of fact! Fishers was simply better than us today and sometimes that happens.”
Hamilton Heights finished fifth as a team with 191 points. The Huskies’ highest finish was a third-place result from its medley relay team, which consisted of Tara Holder, Teegan Madara, Kennedy Weaver and Cylie Starr.
AT FISHERS
Team scores: Fishers 540, Hamilton Southeastern 503, Pendleton Heights 283, Yorktown 200, Hamilton Heights 191, Oak Hill 189, Anderson 96, Marion 76, Elwood 18.
200 medley relay (state cut 1:48.43)
“A” Final: 1. Southeastern (Rebecca Ang, Kennedy Fisher, Audrey Crawford, Molly Pedersen) 1:42.94, 2. Fishers (JoJo Ramey, Grace Lux, Alexandra Stein, Kalli Agapios) 1:43.86, 3. Heights (Tara Holder, Teegan Madara, Kennedy Weaver, Cylie Starr) 1:55.91.
200 freestyle (state cut 1:53.26)
“A” Final: 1. J. Ramey (F) 1:48.54, 2. Charlie Ramey (F) 1:53.84, 4. Holder (HH) 1:57.43, 5. Ava Olson (HSE) 1:58.32, 6. Amelia Vicory (HSE) 1:59.55.
“B” Final: 9. Emily Pfeifer (F) 1:59.57, 10. Lauren Bergman (HSE) 1:59.59, 15. Maria Mitchell (HH) 2:11.62.
200 individual medley (state cut 2:07.02)
“A” Final: 1. Kate Mouser (F) 2:01.84, 2. Lydia Reade (F) 2:04.28, 3. Lux (F) 2:05.56, 4. Crawford (HSE) 2:06.52, 5. Anna Stolle (HSE) 2:08.27, 6. Katelyn Kertin (HSE) 2:10.98, 7. Madara (HH) 2:12.70.
“B” Final: 15. Weaver (HH) 2:32.31.
50 freestyle (state cut 23.97)
“A” Final: 1. Ashley Saple (HSE) 23.94, 2. Agapios (F) 24.11, 3. Fisher (HSE) 24.27, 4. Grace Newton (HSE) 24.28, 5. Avery Stein (F) 24.38, 8. Al. Stein (F) 24.59.
“B” Final: 9. Starr (HH) 25.28, 15. Maddie Hutcherson (HH) 27.23.
One-meter diving (top four advance to regional)
Finals: 1. Morgan Casey (F) 489.96, 2. Natalie Bryan (F) 415.56, 3. Gretchen Osmun (F) 354.21, 3. Ella Penny (HSE) 344.13, 5. Hannah Justice (HSE) 329.97, 9. Ella Wilhelm (HSE) 252.33.
100 butterfly (state cut 56.72)
“A” Final: 1. Crawford (HSE) 55.59, 2. Abigail Miller (F) 56.97, 3. Diane Koo (F) 57.50, 4. Kaleigh Stivers (HSE) 58.35, 5. Al. Stein (F) 58.45, 6. Ang (HSE) 59.65.
“B” Final: 12. Weaver (HH) 1:07.13, 13. Anna Wheat (HH) 1:08.49.
100 freestyle (state cut 52.24)
“A” Final: 1. Pedersen (HSE) 51.02, 2. Saple (HSE) 52.54, 3. C. Ramey (F) 52.56, 6. Av. Stein (F) 53.66, 7. Newton (HSE) 53.71, 8. Holder (HH) 53.83.
“B” Final: 9. Pfeifer (F) 54.45, 13. Hutcherson (HH) 59.59.
500 freestyle (state cut 5:05.73)
“A” Final: 1. J. Ramey (F) 4:54.04, 2. Mouser (F) 4:54.56, 3. Mackenzie Pierce (F) 5:08.33, 4. Madara (HH) 5:12.57, 5. Sloane Gardner (HSE) 5:14.81, 7. Olson (HSE) 5:19.50, 8. Avery Witt (HSE) 5:27.43.
“B” Final: 12. Mitchell (HH) 5:49.83.
200 freestyle relay (state cut 1:39.28)
“A” Final: 1. Southeastern (Fisher, Newton, Saple, Pedersen) 1:34.34, 2. Fishers (Agapios, Av. Stein, Al. Stein, C. Ramey) 1:35.85, 7. Heights (Kat Cox, Weaver, Hutcherson, Mitchell) 1:53.40.
100 backstroke (state cut 57.23)
“A” Final: 1. Agapios (F) 57.98, 2. Olivia Harter (HSE) 58.78, 3. Ang (HSE) 59.06, 4. Makana Goss (HSE) 59.18, 5. Miller (F) 59.21, 6. Koo (F) 59.61.
“B” Final: 10. Carlie Flintoff (HH) 1:09.36, 11. Jane Pache (HH) 1:09.38.
100 breaststroke (state cut 1:05.40)
“A” Final: 1. Reade (F) 1:02.90, 2. Lux (F) 1:03.35, 3. Pierce (F) 1:03.40, 4. Fisher (HSE) 1:04.30, 5. Stolle (HSE) 1:05.45, 6. Kertin (HSE) 1:06.12.
“B” Final: 10. Starr (HH) 1:13.43, 16. Cox (HH) 1:24.25.
400 freestyle relay (state cut 3:35.82)
“A” Final: 1. Fishers (Mouser, C. Ramey, Av. Stein, J. Ramey) 3:27.11, 2. Southeastern (Saple, Crawford, Newton, Pedersen) 3:27.39, 5. Heights (Holder, Hutcherson, Madara, Starr) 3:49.51.
At West Lafayette, University had three swims in the consolation heat. Charlotte Kumler won that heat in the backstroke, officially placing ninth. The Trailblazers totaled 16 points as a team.
AT WEST LAFAYETTE
100 butterfly
“B” Final: 16. Zoe Napier (University) 1:21.55.
500 freestyle
“B” Final: 11. Charlotte Kumler (U) 5:53.30.
100 backstroke
“B” Final: 9. Kumler 1:09.24.