State Tickets Up For Grabs
There will either be pure joy or pure agony this weekend for swimmers around the state.
Thursday night rings in the beginning of two judgment days of girls swimming, with sectional preliminaries leading into Saturday’s championship meets. Golden tickets will be handed out for winners to advance to state, as well as those able to crack state standards. It’s that simple.
Wawasee will have a lot of say in how the Northridge Sectional will play out. Its small but experienced roster come in as the defending sectional team champion, but aren’t necessarily favored or focused on repeating. Coach Julie Robinson’s group is interested in winning events and state entries, which carry much more meaning.
“Our focus continues to be on what we are doing and what we can do to possibly get to state in as many events as possible,” Robinson said. “We can’t worry about what Northridge or Concord or anyone else is doing. We just have to be the best we can be, and have fun.”
Wawasee has the firepower to compete. Senior Bre Robinson and sophomore Paige Miller are both entering the sectional after double wins at the NLC against what will virtually be the same group of contenders from the conference meet. But several key players could factor in how Saturday shakes out. The combination of Shelby Adams, Kendra Miller, Mikala Mawhorter, Kayla Hershberger and Anna Park should play into the relays, which Wawasee may not settle on final rosters until Saturday’s finals.
Kendra Miller and Mawhorter will be players in the 50 freestyle and Miller should contend in the 100 free. Adams broke her own school record in the breaststroke at the NLC, but will need the swim of her life to get to state with three swimmers ahead of her lifetime best of 1:10.48. Hershberger, who was relatively quiet at the NLC, has state experience and is capable wherever she is slotted in. Park will offer depth in the relays.
Northridge proved its worth at the NLC in winning the team title, but did so by only winning three events. But two other events where Warsaw’s Brenna Morgan won – the 50 and 100 freestyles – Northridge finished second and Morgan will swim at the Warsaw Sectional. Lauren Miller, Melissa Bailey, Sydney Boyer, Sydnee Emerson and Katie Hughes will all factor in their events for the Lady Raiders.
Concord’s off day at the NLC was a surprising one, but look for a much-improved showing from Ashley Schrock, Sydney Shuff, Mariah DeFreese, Maddisen Lantz and Alex Beer this weekend.
Goshen has a solid core group who have been through the wars before. Emma Hussey, Lynnsey James, Natalie Evans and Olivia Wenger are all more than capable of stealing state spots. Look for Goshen to make a run in the medley relay, and Hussey possibly in the butterfly to catch the standard.
Warsaw’s sectional will shape up quite differently. The Tigers, who struggled in NLC competition all season, come in a legit contender in what is a significantly weaker overall sectional than Northridge. Culver Academy is likely the favorite in the field, along with Rochester and certainly the host Tigers. Columbia City will also provide some static among the finalists.
Morgan will likely enter the sectional as the overwhelming favorite in the 50 and the 100 freestyles, holding one of the top times in the state this season in both events. In the loosely gathered IHSSCA polls, Morgan holds the third-fastest 100 time (51.88) and fifth-fastest 50 time (24.07), both recorded at the NLC meet. Morgan’s addition to whatever two relays coach Tony DeBrota decides to use her in gives Warsaw a tremendous anchor.
“I am excited to see how this team does at sectionals,” said Warsaw head coach Tony DeBrota. “Not just because they have been working for four-plus months but because this meet will conclude a season primarily based on building up young swimmers. We could see some great times for these girls.”
The relays could be where Warsaw slides an extra event or two to state. None of the contending teams have eye-popping numbers, and only Culver Academy in the field has beaten Warsaw head’s up in duals this season. Also look for Erin Sandberg, Jess Haines and Savannah Taylor to make pushes for championship runs Saturday afternoon.
Tippecanoe Valley has quietly been making strides this season, but will be a longshot to contend for many titles. Kate Gunter will be the one to watch for the Lady Vikings.
Prelims for both the Northridge and Warsaw Sectionals Thursday will begin at 5:30 p.m. Diving opens Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at both venues and the swim and dive finals resume at 1 p.m.