For the Daily Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS – The way Zach Cook and some of his Greenfield-Central teammates saw it, last year’s trip to the Boys Swimming State Finals was one to gain experience.
This year’s trip is to compete for medals.
Cook put himself in position to do exactly that in two events Friday night in the state preliminaries at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium. The sophomore qualified for the championship finals in both of his individual events.
“Last year, I didn’t make it back, and this year, I’m top eight, so it’s very, very exciting,” Cook said. “Last year, we just came here for experience, and this year, we’re here to compete. That was our coach’s goal and our goal.”
Cook first qualified seventh in the 100-yard butterfly with a 49.67-second clocking. He came back to qualify third in the 100 backstroke in 50.81.
“I was pleased with Zach’s performance,” Greenfield coach Mark Logan said. “He dropped a little bit of time in both events, and that’s always what we want to come to the state meet and do. (Today) is all about racing, and he’s a racer.”
Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon senior Dixon Tierney qualified for the finals with the seventh-fastest time in the 200 individual medley (1:51.89). Tierney also qualified for the consolation finals with the 13th-best time in the 100 butterfly (51.50).
Marauders senior Matt Bauchert, sophomore Tim Broaders, junior Bryce Gray and Tierney made the consolation heat with the ninth-fastest time in the 200 freestyle relay (1:26.96), one spot away from making the championship finals. The same foursome finished 18th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.76).
Greenfield junior Allen Forbes, sophomores Ethan Kile and Cook and senior Jordan Cermak qualified for the consolation finals with the 13th-fastest time (1:36.32); while sophomore Christopher Joven teamed with Cook, Forbes and Cermak to claim the 16th and final consolation spot in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.10).
Forbes, Kile, sophomore Austin Payne and Joven finished 24th in the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.00).
Also for the Cougars, Forbes finished 18th in the 100 backstroke (52.56), Cermak took 23rd in the 100 freestyle (48.13) and 31st in the 50 freestyle (22.25) and Kile was 25th in the 100 breaststroke (59.62).
“I’m very pleased with the results,” Logan said. “The guys swam solid, which is always tough after an exciting sectional.”
Greenfield will also have two divers — Ben Rader and Jacob Keener — competing in the prelims beginning at 9 a.m. today. The swimming consolation and championship finals begin at 1 p.m.
