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INDIANAPOLIS -- Coming into the 52nd annual IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving finals, the prevailing question was could the unthinkable happen.
Could Carmel’s insane streak of state championships come to an end?
The answer proved to be a resounding no.
Thanks to stellar efforts by Tennessee-bound senior Molly Sweeney and sophomore Ellie Clark (both triple event winners), Carmel captured its 40th consecutive (!) state title by running up 326.5 points – 99.5 more than runners-up Fishers and Fort Wayne Carroll, who tied for second. It extended the program's national record for consecutive state titles in any sport.
Zionsville placed fourth (201), Penn fifth (157), Hamilton Southeastern sixth (141), Chesterton seventh (138), Valparaiso eighth (122) Center Grove ninth (76) and Munster 10th (73).
There was thought that Fishers, especially, might put an end to the streak – which is a national-record for consecutive state titles in any sport. After all, the Tigers swam within just two points Carmel in their dual matchup earlier this season.
It wasn’t to be.
“This is the best state finals, yet, for us,” Sweeney declared. “We weren’t supposed to win this meet by much, so it makes it much more satisfying.”
Sweeney helped get Carmel’s day off to a good start by swimming a leg of the winning 200 medley relay, with Clarke, Leah Debosch and Sophia Floyd. That relay won in 1:40.9.
Sweeney’s day continued with wins in the 100 butterfly
52.78) and the 100 breaststroke 59.24). For good measure, she anchored Carmel’s 200 free relay, which finished fourth.
Her victories gave Sweeney 13 for her career, which is fifth-best in IHSAA history.
It almost didn’t happen.
“Last year was extremely hard for me and I contemplated quitting,” she said. “I was going through over-training syndrome and I was miserable. I didn’t want to swim, I didn’t even want to practice."
Sweeney said she simply had to step back and come to some personal realizations.
“I realized I’m more than a swimmer, I had a God-given ability and I should use it to the fullest,” she said. “When I qualified for the Junior Worlds last year, that was my breakthrough.”
“Molly had a great start to her career and last year was a low point for her,” Carmel coach Chris Plumb said. “I’m incredibly proud of her for working through it all. She was a great leader for us, both in and out of the pool and that was huge for us.”
Clarke, a sophomore, also proved huge for Carmel as she also had three firsts – including the 200 IM (1:57.73) and 100 backstroke53.08).
The 200 IM, the third event of the finals, proved to be the turning point for Carmel. After the first two events, Fishers held a 67-64.5 lead, but Carmel had three swimmers in the championship race of the IM. Debosch added a fifth-place finish and senior Lucy Enoch added an eighth-place to give Carmel a 109.5-73 lead.
The rest of the meet wasn’t in doubt.
“That was a big turning point for us,” Plumb said. “I mean, coming in, we weren’t as strong as we’ve been, historically, and everyone was thinking it would be a much-closer meet.
“But, the way we performed (Saturday) was fantastic,” Plumb continued. “It was our athletes who led the way.”
Carmel failed to win another event, only getting a second from diver Helena Gibson – who finished behind North Central’s Adelyn Flessner, the diving champ for the second-straight year (529.3).
Junior Emily Wolf led the Fishers effort, as she took a pair of wins with the 200 free (1:45.84) and the 500 free (4:43.25). Wolf is considered the top junior in the state.
Carroll’s had its charge led by freestyle-specialists Maris Williams and Kate Fetters – both juniors. Williams won the 50 free22.86) and Fetters took second 22.92) to become the first teammates to finish one-two in the event since 2015.
They switched places in the 100 free with Fetters winning49.52) and Williams taking second 50.00). They then teamed up to lead Carroll to wins in the 200 free and 400 free relays – with juniors Naomi Bowland and Jordyn Glassley swimming legs in both races.
So, with Carroll and Fishers appearing to be loaded next year, could the unthinkable be in play in 2027?
“Every year is different,” Plumb said. “It seems like the others are bringing everyone back and we’re losing some seniors.
“We definitely have some work to do.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel girls swimming wins record 40th consecutive state title by 99.5 points
Continue reading...
Could Carmel’s insane streak of state championships come to an end?
The answer proved to be a resounding no.
Thanks to stellar efforts by Tennessee-bound senior Molly Sweeney and sophomore Ellie Clark (both triple event winners), Carmel captured its 40th consecutive (!) state title by running up 326.5 points – 99.5 more than runners-up Fishers and Fort Wayne Carroll, who tied for second. It extended the program's national record for consecutive state titles in any sport.
Zionsville placed fourth (201), Penn fifth (157), Hamilton Southeastern sixth (141), Chesterton seventh (138), Valparaiso eighth (122) Center Grove ninth (76) and Munster 10th (73).
There was thought that Fishers, especially, might put an end to the streak – which is a national-record for consecutive state titles in any sport. After all, the Tigers swam within just two points Carmel in their dual matchup earlier this season.
It wasn’t to be.
“This is the best state finals, yet, for us,” Sweeney declared. “We weren’t supposed to win this meet by much, so it makes it much more satisfying.”
Sweeney helped get Carmel’s day off to a good start by swimming a leg of the winning 200 medley relay, with Clarke, Leah Debosch and Sophia Floyd. That relay won in 1:40.9.
Sweeney’s day continued with wins in the 100 butterfly
52.78) and the 100 breaststroke 59.24). For good measure, she anchored Carmel’s 200 free relay, which finished fourth.Her victories gave Sweeney 13 for her career, which is fifth-best in IHSAA history.
It almost didn’t happen.
“Last year was extremely hard for me and I contemplated quitting,” she said. “I was going through over-training syndrome and I was miserable. I didn’t want to swim, I didn’t even want to practice."
Sweeney said she simply had to step back and come to some personal realizations.
“I realized I’m more than a swimmer, I had a God-given ability and I should use it to the fullest,” she said. “When I qualified for the Junior Worlds last year, that was my breakthrough.”
“Molly had a great start to her career and last year was a low point for her,” Carmel coach Chris Plumb said. “I’m incredibly proud of her for working through it all. She was a great leader for us, both in and out of the pool and that was huge for us.”
Clarke, a sophomore, also proved huge for Carmel as she also had three firsts – including the 200 IM (1:57.73) and 100 backstroke
53.08).The 200 IM, the third event of the finals, proved to be the turning point for Carmel. After the first two events, Fishers held a 67-64.5 lead, but Carmel had three swimmers in the championship race of the IM. Debosch added a fifth-place finish and senior Lucy Enoch added an eighth-place to give Carmel a 109.5-73 lead.
The rest of the meet wasn’t in doubt.
“That was a big turning point for us,” Plumb said. “I mean, coming in, we weren’t as strong as we’ve been, historically, and everyone was thinking it would be a much-closer meet.
“But, the way we performed (Saturday) was fantastic,” Plumb continued. “It was our athletes who led the way.”
Carmel failed to win another event, only getting a second from diver Helena Gibson – who finished behind North Central’s Adelyn Flessner, the diving champ for the second-straight year (529.3).
Junior Emily Wolf led the Fishers effort, as she took a pair of wins with the 200 free (1:45.84) and the 500 free (4:43.25). Wolf is considered the top junior in the state.
Carroll’s had its charge led by freestyle-specialists Maris Williams and Kate Fetters – both juniors. Williams won the 50 free
22.86) and Fetters took second 22.92) to become the first teammates to finish one-two in the event since 2015.They switched places in the 100 free with Fetters winning
49.52) and Williams taking second 50.00). They then teamed up to lead Carroll to wins in the 200 free and 400 free relays – with juniors Naomi Bowland and Jordyn Glassley swimming legs in both races.So, with Carroll and Fishers appearing to be loaded next year, could the unthinkable be in play in 2027?
“Every year is different,” Plumb said. “It seems like the others are bringing everyone back and we’re losing some seniors.
“We definitely have some work to do.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel girls swimming wins record 40th consecutive state title by 99.5 points
Continue reading...
