Cougars dominate, three-peat at New Palestine Sectional

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NEW PALESTINE — Shyanne Milne was fully aware of what was at stake.

As soon as she touched the glistening water on her final 1-meter dive attempt Saturday at the New Palestine Swim Sectional — while hardly making a splash — the Greenfield-Central junior knew what she had accomplished.

With her final score of 423.85, Milne broke her own 11-dive school record by 19 points. That score was good enough for a third-place finish as she advanced to regional competition for the second straight season.

“I knew it was possible, I just needed to nail that dive,” Milne said. “As soon as I entered the water, I knew the dive felt pretty great and that with the degree of difficulty, I was positive I had broken the record.

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“But what really let me know was the look on my coach’s face when I came out of the water. I was extremely excited.”

As a team, Greenfield-Central took care of business, as well, and earned its third-straight Sectional 15 title. The Cougars dominated with 458 points, followed by Mt. Vernon (308) and New Palestine (299).

Eastern Hancock finished ninth overall (102.5).

“It felt great for our team to win again,” Milne added. “We knew we didn’t have the meet ‘in the bag’, so we went in with the mindset of champions.”

Although Milne is the only diver from Hancock County moving on, nine area swimmers will compete at the IHSAA State Finals at IUPUI’s Natatorium this weekend.

Milne, however, will compete at the Plainfield Diving Regional at 6 p.m. today for a chance to return to state, where she finished 31st overall last year.

Four Greenfield-Central swimmers extended their seasons as Carley Logan, Krista Zornes, Kortney Hodnett and Ashley Finney teamed up to win the 200-yard medley relay.

Logan also won the 500 freestyle (5:23.48), while Hodnett took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.37).

The same quartet finished in second by .05 in the 400 freestyle relay behind Mt. Vernon but smashed the school record by six seconds.

After the meet, Greenfield-Central head coach Emily Logan was named Sectional 15 Coach of the Year.

“She’s a great role model and pushes everyone to their potential,” Milne said of Logan. “She’s a fantastic supporter of everyone.”

Mt. Vernon, which also finished second at the sectional last season, advanced four individuals to the state finals, as well, led by a standout performance from Lydia Tierney.

Tierney, who won the 100 butterfly (57.60, sectional record) and 200 individual medley (2:09.78), teamed with Gloria Gonzalez, Riley Chambers and Haley Moore to win both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays for the second year in a row.

“I practice the butterfly all the time and have just been working hard,” said Tierney, who won the same individual events at the sectional last season. “I think that (butterfly practice) helps me get a good start in the 200 medley.

“It’s really cool we all get to move on together.”

New Palestine had a record-breaking day from Courtnee Coffman. She won two sectional titles and set program marks in the 50 (24.95) and 100 freestyles (54.30).

Teammate Shannon Jones also set a new school record with an 11-dive score of 335.05, which placed her sixth overall.

“She’s (Coffman) a really good kid and has a good attitude,” New Palestine head coach Steve Maxwell said. “I was pleased with how she swam; I thought the 50 could be faster. I think we will see some significant changes for next year.

“Shannon is a great athlete and will be missed. We were able to throw her in events without a lot of practice.”

Eastern Hancock broke 100 points and is gaining the attention of other programs, according to Royals head coach Derek McCormick.

Shelby Kell led the team, which shattered four school records, with two program-best finishes. She finished sixth in the 100 freestyle (58.97) and eighth in the 50 freestyle (26.35).

Tatum Profitt also set a school record in the 100 breaststroke (1:20.42) and teamed with Kell, Alyson Ray and Sinah Griessler to break the 200 medley relay record.

“We ended the season on a high,” McCormick said. “We are closing the gaps between us and the teams ahead. I am so proud of these girls and can’t wait for next year.”