By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – A mix of young swimmers and senior veterans provided some solid moments for the other Hamilton County schools at last weekend’s IHSAA state meet.
Fishers placed third at the meet, marking the Tigers’ fifth consecutive finish in the top five. Fishers totaled 158 points, just behind runner-up Penn’s 165 points.
The Tigers had nine swims in last Saturday’s finals, with eight of them in the “A” Final and earning state medals. Junior Jonathan Hines led the way with four podium finishes, including a runner-up result in the 500 freestyle.
“I think I could be a little bit better in the future, but I’m pretty happy with where I was in the 500,” said Hines.
The junior also finished fourth in the 200 free and was part of Fishers’ two top-eight relays. Hines joined freshman Alex Koo and juniors Hudson Lee and Victor Herbert to place fifth in the 200 free relay, then was part of an all-juniors 400 free relay team that placed sixth, along with Luis Sanchez, Lee and Thomas Johanneman.
The Tigers’ best event was the 500 free. After Hines’ finish, two more juniors placed in the top eight: Anthony Adams Jr. was sixth and Sanchez finished eighth. Sanchez also had a multiple medal day, as he placed eighth in the individual medley. Koo finished fifth in the 100 free and junior Jacob Schade was fifth in diving (see related story).
Royals back in the top 10
Hamilton Southeastern got back in the top 10 for the first time since 2021. The Royals scored 82 points to finish in 10th place.
Southeastern had four top eight swims. Junior Jihoon Jung made the podium three times, first as part of the Royals’ eighth-place medley relay team. It was an all-junior squad, also featuring Jacob Frey, Collin Huston and Derek Robison.
Later, Jung picked up fifth-place medals in both the IM and the butterfly. Huston would go on to finish fifth in the breaststroke as well.
“I feel like I swam pretty well,” said Huston. He called it a “good feeling” to have the Royals be back in the top 10. Jung agreed, saying that the Southeastern program is “definitely on the rise.”
“It’s really good seeing all of our progress really pay off,” said Jung. “We’re just constantly improving, so I’m really excited for how next year is going to go.”
Kumler makes history
University senior Neiman Kumler made some history for the Trailblazers, becoming the first ever medal winner at a state meet.
Kumler placed sixth in the 50 free, then came back to take seventh in the 100 free. That turned into 25 team points for University, good for 21st place.
“I just feel really good, especially coming out of the sectional last week and I had put myself in a pretty good spot,” said Kumler, who will swim for the University of Illinois-Chicago next year. “I just knew I needed to move up a few places and it was great to do that.”
Kulp places for Millers
Noblesville scored 14 points, putting the Millers in 30th place as a team. Junior Aiden Kless took seventh in diving (see related story), while senior Graham Kulp moved up a spot to take 15th in the individual medley.
Kulp
Kulp said he “put in all my effort and I can’t be unhappy with the results.” He placed 24th in the state prelims last year.
“It got a lot faster this year,” said Kulp, who is committed to the University of Indianapolis. “But it’s just exciting to swim at the state finals,” calling it an “environment unlike any other.”
Morse leads Westfield
Westfield senior Bennett Morse swam in two “B” Finals at state. He placed 13th in the 100 free, moving up three spots from his preliminary placing of 16th. Morse finished the meet joining freshmen Zach Welch and Garreth Thomas and senior Luca Barbosa to take 16th in the 400 free relay.
“I feel I did pretty good,” said Morse. “I’m happy with it.”
Morse will swim next year at the University of Evansville, his parents’ alma mater. He will also be rooting for the younger swimmers on the Shamrocks’ team.
“I’m really excited to come back and watch the team for the next few years,” said Morse. “I think they’re going to do really well. I’m really excited for this freshman class. They’re crazy good.”