Tuesday night was important, and special, for the Westfield swim teams.
The Shamrocks hosted Zionsville in their final home meet of the season. The meet was important because it was the last one before the Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet, which takes place Saturday at Noblesville. Both Westfield and Zionsville are in the HCC. The Eagles swept the Tuesday meet, edging out the Shamrock girls 98-88 and winning the boys meet 127.5-58.5.
The meet was special because it was Senior Night. It was the first Senior Night for Westfield coach Darrick Thomas, who began coaching the ‘Rocks this season. Thomas had been an assistant at Carmel and Zionsville.
“It was an exciting night,” said Thomas. “We came out a little bit short. But a lot of great races, a lot of great heart, a lot of enthusiasm.”
Thomas admitted to mixed feelings, since it was the last home meet for the seniors, even though the Shamrocks still have four more meets this season.
“So it’s not the end of the season, even though it’s the last time they get to perform and compete in front of their home crowd and their families and their classmates and everything,” said Thomas. “It’ll be nice to continue on with them. We’ve got them another month and a half for the girls and two months for the guys.”
In the girls meet, Westfield won three events. Erin Verbrugge was a double winner in the 100 freestyle and the breaststroke. Katie Hand finished first in the butterfly event. The Shamrock boys got a win from Ben Hobson in diving. Thomas Nguyen tied for fourth, he is one of the seniors on Westfield’s team.
“It didn’t really hit me, because we have competitions at other schools,” said Nguyen. “It’s not my last last time, but it’s my last time here.”
Thomas said that his swimmers didn’t necessarily swim the events on Tuesday that they will swim in the conference meet.
“I think it’s really important that as we go through the year, these guys have so many meets that when we compete in the same events over and over and over again, it’s really difficult,” said Thomas. He said that swimming those same events create mental and physical hurdles, so he likes to see them swim in different events.
“I think this meet is tough,” said Thomas. “We competed really well, there are lot of close races. I think the kids’ heart and effort were outstanding.”
Thomas also noted that the timing of the meet is tough as well, but, he said, “we competed really well, and for me it was special seeing all the people that I used to work with when I was at Zionsville, and how far that team and their club has come along is exciting.”
ABOVE: The Westfield swim team honored its 10 seniors during the Shamrocks’ dual meet with Zionsville on Tuesday.
BELOW: Westfield’s Katie Hand won the girls butterfly race. (Richie Hall)
