By RICHIE HALL
The Noblesville High School aquatic center was loud for the girls swimming sectional finals, which is nothing unusual.
This year was a little unusual, though, as last week’s winter storm pushed back the sectional schedule. The prelims were on Saturday, so the finals had to be contested on Monday.
The timeline was different, but the result was the same, especially for Carmel. The Greyhounds dominated the sectional, winning a record 39th championship and qualifying all 27 of their swims on to this weekend’s state meet, which begins with the preliminaries Friday at the IU Natatorium.
Getting everyone out to state is always the goal for Carmel, and it easily met that goal. All 27 of the Greyhounds’ swims were well under the state cut time, which sets the 35-time defending state champions up well to extend their record streak.
Carmel won all 11 of the swimming events, including three in new record time, starting with the medley relay. That team of Berit Berglund, MacKenna Lieske, Alex Shackell and Meghan Christman set a new mark of 1 minute, 41.36 seconds.
Shackell, a freshman, lowered the butterfly record to 53.39 seconds, while another freshman, Lynsey Bowen, shattered the old 500 freestyle record; her time of 4:47.52 lowered the old mark by over six seconds.
Bowen was part of a first-place tie in the 200 freestyle, as she and teammate Gretchen Lueking finished that race in 1:47.91. Lueking also won the 100 free. Christman was a double winner in the 50 free and breaststroke, while Berglund triumphed in the backstroke.
Alyssa Street rounded out the Carmel individual winners in the individual medley. Relay champions for the ‘Hounds were Grace Dougherty, Erin Cummins, Hayley Reed and Lueking in the 200 free relay, and Shackell, Keira Kask, Cummins and Bowen in the 400 free relay.
The Greyhounds finished 1-2-3 in all but one swimming event, going 1-2-4 in the backstroke.
“I thought we did a great job,” said Carmel coach Chris Plumb. The coach noted that it’s important to keep everyone healthy in order for them to advance through the tournament, “so we feel really good about qualifying everybody and that’s what we came here to do,” he said. “It’s a four-part tournament, so to be fully loaded for next week’s great.”
RUNNER-UP ‘ROCKS
While Carmel was being its usual dominant self, Westfield and the host Millers were in a tight battle for second place. The Shamrocks pulled it out, finishing with 372 points to Noblesville’s 368.
Westfield also got four swim on to the state meet. Macy Hoaglan will be a part of all four swims: She qualified individually in the 200 and 500 freestyles, and also as part of the medley and 200 free relays. Hoaglan will be joined by Alexa Boillat, Kathryn Harrison and Madison Putt on the medley relay, and by Boillat, Alexandra Irvin and Putt on the 200 free relay.
All four of Westfield’s times qualified by callback, which means they were fast enough to fill a field of 32 in the respective event once the sectional champion and cut times were placed. Ellie Hill won the diving event, which was contested on Saturday.
After the meet, Shamrocks coach Darrick Thomas was named Sectional Coach of the Year.
“I think everybody did their part,” said Thomas. “We talked a lot about every little piece, every little effort mattered, every place mattered. Noblesville’s a great team, we have a great relationship with them. It’s been a long way since we’ve been able to find a way to beat them, and it was truly a whole team effort top to bottom.”
The Millers also had four swims qualify for state, including all three relays. Noblesville’s medley relay team of Sophie Resner, Maya McDonald, Emily Knott, Mia Field, and its 200 free relay team of McDonald, Mia Field, Exley Tricker and Caroline Santerre both qualified with a state cut time, while the 400 free relay squad of Reagan Hart, Ellie Hayward, Santerre and Sophie Resner received a callback. McDonald also got a state cut in the breaststroke.
“It was a really good meet,” said Millers coach Aleks Fansler. “When we came in, I just looked at the psych sheet. I think we were down, just off of the psych sheet alone, by 70 points to Westfield, so we knew that was a big gap that we’d have to make up. So I think coming out and only being off by four points, I couldn’t be more proud of what the girls did, because that was just absolutely incredible.”
Guerin Catholic finished seventh as a team with 134 points. Erica Hunckler had two sixth-place finishes, first in the 100 free, then as a part of the 400 free relay team, with Erin Reynon, Bridgette Keller and Christianna Dunasky.
AT NOBLESVILLE
Team scores: Carmel 577, Westfield 372, Noblesville 368, Tipton 165, Northwestern 163, Kokomo 158, Guerin Catholic 134, Western 99, Maconaquah 93, Eastern 69.
200 medley relay (State cut 1:48.62)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Berit Berglund, MacKenna Lieske, Alex Shackell, Meghan Christman) 1:41.36, new sectional record, 2. Noblesville (Sophie Resner, Maya McDonald, Emily Knott, Mia Field) 1:47.84, 3. Westfield (Alexa Boillat, Kathryn Harrison, Madison Putt, Macy Hoaglan) 1:49.26, 7. Guerin Catholic (Olivia Kunkel, Meg Schemnaske, Ally Keller, Kalen Moe) 2:12.20.
NOTE: Westfield received a callback to state.
200 freestyle (State cut 1:53.83)
“A” Final: T1. Lynsey Bowen (C) 1:47.91; Gretchen Lueking (C) 1:47.91, 3. Alexandra Ward (C) 1:52.55, 4. Hoaglan (W) 1:54.18, 6. Caroline Santerre (N) 1:57.75, 7. Exley Tricker (N) 2:00.13, 8. Ellie Hayward (N) 2:00.67.
“B” Final: 9. Isabella Amaya (W) 1:59.12, 10. Bridgette Keller (GC) 2:03.38, 12. Christianna Dunasky (GC) 2:06.49, 13. Kate Peck (W) 2:07.19.
NOTE: Hoaglan received a callback to state.
200 individual medley (State cut 2:07.21)
“A” Final: 1. Alyssa Street (C) 2:02.98, 2. Lieske (C) 2:02.99, 3. Keira Kask (C) 2:04.67, 4. Ellie Ketcham (W) 2:12.53, 5. Resner (N) 2:12.62, 6. Hannah Jones (W) 2:15.32, 8. Reagan Hart (N) 2:16.50.
“B” Final: 10. Annie Spaletto (W) 2:17.12, 12. Knott (N) 2:19.39.
50 freestyle (State cut 24.05)
“A” Final: 1. Christman (C) 23.02, 2. Shackell (C) 23.19, 3. Grace Dougherty (C) 23.75, 5. Field (N) 25.44, 7. Putt (W) 25.65, 8. Erica Hunckler (GC) 25.89.
“B” Final: 9. Julia Santerre (N) 25.64, 11. Ava Friedman (W) 25.98, 12. Avery Banas (W) 26.34, 14. Katie Kramer (N) 26.68, 14. Erin Reynon (GC) 26.71.
One-meter diving (Top four advanced to regional)
Finals: 1. Ellie Lee (W) 412.70, 2. Melaina Munson (C) 353.15, 3. Ally Doyle (W) 332.95, 4. Greta Griffin (C) 319.90, 7. Ava Pavich (N) 289.10, 10. Alyssa Schwartz (W) 250.55, 11. Ella Miller (N) 236.20, 13. Aidan Gates (N) 228.60, 15. Abigail Clark (C) 201.45.
100 butterfly (State cut 56.91)
“A” Final: 1. Shackell (C) 53.39, new sectional record, 2. Hayley Reed (C) 55.24, 3. Parker Kurzawa (C) 56.58, 5. Boillat (W) 58.88, 6. Jones (W) 59.48, 7. Knott (N) 1:00.36, 8. Putt (W) 1:00.89.
“B” Final: 9. Sara Fife (N) 1:04.77, 10. Katie Sutton (N) 1:05.11, 12. Kunkel (GC) 1:08.68, 15. A. Keller (GC) 1:14.66.
100 freestyle (State cut 52.47)
“A” Final: 1. Lueking (C) 50.28, 2. Berglund (C) 51.57, 3. Dougherty (C) 51.97, 5. McDonald (N) 53.71, 6. Hunckler (GC) 55.51, 8. Field (N) 55.96.
“B” Final: 10. Alexandra Irvin (W) 56.10, 11. Friedman (W) 57.04, 12. Fiona Halvorsen (N) 57.63, 13. Banas (W) 58.26, 15. Reynon (GC) 59.59.
500 freestyle (State cut 5:05.94)
“A” Final: 1. Bowen (C) 4:47.52, new sectional record, 2. Erin Cummins (C) 4:56.03, 3. Ward (C) 4:58.92, 4. Hoaglan (W) 5:10.26, 8. Olivia Motz (N) 5:28.82.
NOTE: Hoaglan received a callback to state.
“B” Final: 9. Hayward (N) 5:23.34, 10. Peck (W) 5:29.63, 11. Hart (N) 5:32.36, 12. B. Keller (GC) 5:36.47.
200 freestyle relay (State cut 1:39.22)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Dougherty, Cummins, Reed, Lueking) 1:35.54, 2. Noblesville (McDonald, Field, Tricker, C. Santerre) 1:38.30, 3. Westfield (Boillat, Irvin, Putt, Hoaglan) 1:40.32, 7. Guerin Catholic (Reynon, B. Keller, Dunasky, Hunckler) 1:44.94.
NOTE: Westfield received a callback to state.
100 backstroke (State cut 57.12)
“A” Final: 1. Berglund (C) 54.40, 2. Kiarra Thomas (C) 56.03, 4. Kask (C) 56.62, 5. Boillat (W) 58.55, 6. Resner (N) 59.55, 7. C. Santerre (N) 1:00.42, 8. Irvin (W) 1:00.93.
“B” Final: 9. Hill (W) 1:03.50, 10. Fife (N) 1:04.08, 11. Dunasky (GC) 1:05.88, 16. Kunkel (GC) 1:09.60.
100 breaststroke (State cut 1:05.63)
“A” Final: 1. Christman (C) 1:03.47, 2. Lieske (C) 1:03.97, 3. Vivian Wilson (C) 1:04.29, 4. McDonald (N) 1:04.36, 6. Tricker (N) 1:09.66, 8. Harrison (W) 1:11.62.
“B” Final: 9. Spaletto (W) 1:10.17, 10. Halvorsen (N) 1:11.49, 11. Ketcham (W) 1:11.92.
400 freestyle relay (State cut 3:35.34)
“A” Final: 1. Carmel (Shackell, Kask, Cummins, Bowen) 3:27.69, 2. Noblesville (Hart, Hayward, C. Santerre, Resner) 3:40.16, 4. Westfield (Amaya, Jones, Friedman, Banas) 3:45.95, 6. Guerin Catholic (Reynon, B. Keller, Dunasky, Hunckler) 3:50.76.
NOTE: Noblesville received a callback to state.
Over at Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers won a tough battle with the Royals to claim its fourth straight sectional title and eighth in program history.
The Tigers finished with 550.5 points, while Southeastern scored 495 points. Fishers won seven events and had 24 swims qualify for the state meet.
Jo Jo Ramey picked up three wins. First, she set a sectional record in taking the 200 free, clocking in at 1:47.00. Ramey later won the backstroke, also in a sectional record time of 54.89 seconds. Ramey finished the meet by joining Kate Mouser, Nalanie Cortez and Emma Schumacher to win the 400 free relay.
Cortez teamed with Kalli Agapios, Alexandra Stein and Avery Stein to triumph in the 200 free relay. Mouser claimed the IM and 500 free events, with Agapios winning the 100 free. The Tigers finished 1-2-3 in the 200, 100 and 500 freestyle races.
“It was tough last week, because the kids were ready to go and then it was delayed and postponed,” said Fishers coach Joe Keller. “And we just kept talking about our motto, is ‘Adapt and overcome.’ And the kids have just been really focused, they’ve done a really great job.”
The Royals won the other five events and had 12 swims qualify for state. Southeastern started off with a medley relay win; the team of Grace Newton, Kennedy Fisher, Audrey Crawford and Ashley Saple won in a new sectional record time of 1:41.90. Fisher later won the 50 free and breaststroke, while Crawford prevailed in the butterfly. Hannah Justice won the Saturday diving event.
“It was great,” said Southeastern coach Christian Hanselmann. The coach said the team has two goals: Swim faster, or move up in place. “Everyone did that,” said Hanselmann.
Hamilton Heights placed sixth with 172 points. Teegan Madara placed fourth in the 500 free and sixth in the IM, receiving a callback to state in both events.
AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
Team scores: Fishers 550.5, Hamilton Southeastern 495, Pendleton Heights 301.5, Oak Hill 206, Yorktown 189, Hamilton Heights 172, Anderson 118, Marion 70, Elwood 50, Liberty Christian 18.
200 medley relay (State cut 1:48.62)
“A” Final: 1. Southeastern (Grace Newton, Kennedy Fisher, Audrey Crawford, Ashley Saple) 1:41.90, new sectional record, 2. Fishers (Jo Jo Ramey, Grace Lux, Alexandra Stein, Kalli Agapios) 1:43.40, 5. Heights (Sophia Hulen, Teegan Madara, Kennedy Weaver, Maddie Hutcherson) 1:57.97.
200 freestyle (State cut 1:53.83)
“A” Final: 1. Ramey (F) 1:47.00, new sectional record, 2. Emma Schumacher (F) 1:50.42, 3. Nalanie Cortez (F) 1:51.50, 4. Amelia Vicory (HSE) 1:55.57, 6. Ava Olson (HSE) 1:57.71, 7. Lauren Bergman (HSE) 1:57.95.
“B” Final: 11. Hulen (HH) 2:11.47, 16. Alaina Stohler (HH) 2:20.93.
200 individual medley (State cut 2:07.21)
“A” Final: 1. Grace Mouser (F) 2:01.35, 2. Crawford (HSE) 2:03.13, 3. Avery Stein (F) 2:03.28, 4. Lydia Reade (F) 2:05.56, 5. Anna Stolle (HSE) 2:07.11, 6. Madara (HH) 2:09.05, 7. Katelyn Kertin (HSE) 2:10.55.
NOTE: Madara received a callback to state.
50 freestyle (State cut 24.05)
“A” Final: 1. Fisher (HSE) 23.62, 2. Agapios (F) 23.74, 3. Saple (HSE) 24.14, 4. Al. Stein (F) 24.38, T5. Claire Francis (F) 24.38, 8. Kiley Zoeller (HSE) 25.06.
NOTE: Saple and Stein received callbacks to state.
“B” Final: 11. Hutcherson (HH) 26.48, 15. Anna Jozsa (HH) 27.59.
One-meter diving (Top four advanced to regional)
Finals: 1. Hannah Justice (HSE) 387.55, 2. Gretchen Osmun (F) 372.10, 3. Ella Penny (HSE) 353.10, 6. Campbell Lively-Mason (HH) 290.40, 7. Madeline Shell (F) 280.90, 10. Adriana Salgado (HSE) 245.25, 12. Kate Jansen (F) 222.80.
100 butterfly (State cut 56.91)
“A” Final: 1. Crawford (HSE) 54.80, new sectional record, 2. Abigail Miller (F) 57.00, 3. Diane Koo (F) 57.51, 4. Al. Stein (F) 57.93, 5. Newton (HSE) 58.42, 6. Kaleigh Stivers (HSE) 58.46.
NOTE: All three Fishers swimmers received callbacks to state.
“B” Final: 11. Weaver (HH) 1:06.75, 16. Sarah Toll (HH) 1:15.75.
100 freestyle (State cut 52.47)
“A” Final: 1. Agapios (F) 51.74, 2. Cortez (F) 51.96, 3. Francis (F) 53.36, 4. Vicory (HSE) 53.50, 5. Olson (HSE) 54.31, 7. Kertin (HSE) 54.68.
NOTE: Francis received a callback to state.
“B” Final: 12. Hutcherson (HH) 59.25, 15. Jozsa (HH) 1:01.10.
500 freestyle (State cut 5:05.94)
“A” Final: 1. Mouser (F) 4:58.37, 2. Schumacher (F) 5:01.04, 3. Arabelle Johnson (F) 5:04.90, 4. Madara (HH) 5:09.07, 5. Sloane Gardner (HSE) 5:14.38, 7. Isabelle Waren (HSE) 5:17.41.
NOTE: Madara received a callback to state.
“B” Final: 9. Bergman (HSE) 5:24.47, 12. Weaver (HH) 6:13.36.
200 freestyle relay (State cut 1:39.22)
“A” Final: 1. Fishers (Cortez, Av. Stein, Al. Stein, Agapios) 1:34.61, 2. Southeastern (Fisher, Vicory, Olson, Saple) 1:35.13, 7. Heights (Jane Pache, Alaina Stohler, Toll, Jozsa) 1:54.13.
100 backstroke (State cut 57.12)
“A” Final: 1. Ramey (F) 54.89, new sectional record, 2. Newton (HSE) 57.01, 3. Mia Wilson (F) 58.83, 4. Miller (F) 59.06, 5. Makana Goss (HSE) 59.28, 6. Stivers (HSE) 1:02.14.
“B” Final: 10. Hulen (HH) 1:07.80, 12. Pache (HH) 1:09.49.
100 breaststroke (State cut 1:05.63)
“A” Final: 1. Fisher (HSE) 1:03.41, 2. Av. Stein (F) 1:03.54, 3. Lux (F) 1:03.88, 4. Reade (F) 1:04.52, 5. Stolle (HSE) 1:05.53, 6. Eloise Harrison (HSE) 1:06.08.
NOTE: Harrison received a callback to state.
“B” Final: 14. Karley Duncan (HH) 1:21.01.
400 freestyle relay (State cut 3:35.34)
“A” Final: 1. Fishers (Mouser, Cortez, Schumacher, Ramey) 3:25.68, 2. Southeastern (Crawford, Vicory, Stolle, Bergman) 3:30.85, 4. Heights (Hulen, Hutcherson, Weaver, Madara) 3:56.22.
University placed 11th at the Lafayette Jefferson sectional on Monday.
The Trailblazers’ medley relay team of LJ Gregory, Jaclyn Copeland, Audrey Priest, Zoe Napier finished eighth.
AT LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON
200 medley relay
“A” Final: 8. University (LJ Gregory, Jaclyn Copeland, Audrey Priest, Zoe Napier) 2:19.67.
100 butterfly
“B” Final: 13. Priest 1:14.38.
200 freestyle relay
“B” Final: 9. University (Priest, Napier, Copeland, Gregory) 2:03.91.
100 backstroke
“B” Final: 14. Evie King 1:20.93.
Five Hamilton County divers advanced to the state meet after their performance at the Homestead diving regional on Tuesday.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Hannah Justice placed second at the regional with a score of 405.05 points, followed by Fishers’ Gretchen Osmun in third with 393.00 points.
The top eight at the regional qualify for state. Joining Justice and Osmun are Westfield’s Ellie Lee (fifth, 349.35 points), Southeastern’s Ella Penny (sixth, 345.30 points) and Carmel’s Melaina Munson (seventh, 341.35 points).
Westfield’s Ally Doyle was 13th with 215.90 points and Carmel’s Greta Griffin tooks 16th with 200.80 points.