NEW PALESTINE — Although there was water pouring from her face, Mt. Vernon junior Lydia Tierney hardly broke a sweat.
Tierney, a junior, dominated the 200-yard individual medley on Tuesday at New Palestine, winning the race by over 30 seconds. She also won the 500-yard freestyle, a race she’s not accustomed to, easily in 5:37.20 — nearly a minute ahead of the next swimmer.
Despite her effort, though, New Palestine used its depth to win the girls’ side of the meet, 101-85.
Last season, Tierney qualified for the state finals in four events, including two relays.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“With Lydia, we really have been working on longer races,” Mt. Vernon assistant coach Dixon Tierney said, who is also her brother and a former state qualifier for the Marauders. “She really didn’t have the endurance to win races (last season). We are trying to work her technique with her breaststroke and backstroke. She is always willing to do whatever we tell her to do.”
On the boys’ side, Mt. Vernon earned a win and topped its county and conference foe, 98-82.
The Marauders’ 200-yard medley relay team edged New Palestine by less than two seconds and also topped the Dragons in the 200-yard freestyle relay. However, it took second in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Mt. Vernon senior Bryce Gray, who also swam multiple events at state last season, was on the winning 200-yard freestyle team and won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races on Tuesday. His teammate, junior Joshua Blackburn, was on both winning relay teams, as well, and won the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.
“(Gray) is a club swimmer and has been working hard,” Mt. Vernon head coach Rich Isham said. “He is actually battling sickness right now, although you wouldn’t be able to tell. Bryce is following the same training program as Lydia (Tierney) is.”
In the diving portion of the meet, New Palestine freshman Colin Stacey looked poised — and talented — for a freshman and finished in first with a score of 226.10. Mt. Vernon junior Jordan Spearman was second with 105.65 points.
“We really think Colin is a potential state-type diver,” New Palestine head coach Steve Maxwell said. “He has only been diving for two years and has great skills for his age. He enjoys it and is not intimidated.
“Just like Mt. Vernon tonight, we had a bunch of sick kids and kids not here. We just have so many new swimmers.”
On the girls’ side of the diving competition, Mt. Vernon senior Maddie King was equally dominant, winning with 248.90 points. New Palestine’s Karen Shriver, another rookie, was second with a score of 182.85.
Also for the Dragon girls, senior Courtnee Coffman won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:09.08. She was also on the winning 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams with Maria Virt, Hailee Holberton and Jessica Rogers. The same foursome won the 200-yard medley relay.
New Palestine junior Lillie Cain, a regional shot putter last season, is out for the swim team for the first time with hopes of improving her overall core strength for track. She competed in the 500-yard freestyle relay.
“She does everything we do, but she is here with a different mindset,” Maxwell said. “She really works hard. It’s been a tough adjustment, but she is amazingly athletic.”
Last season, Mt. Vernon’s boys finished in third at the New Palestine Sectional. New Palestine was fifth. On the girls’ side, Mt. Vernon finished in second while New Palestine was third.
The Hoosier Heritage Conference meet will take place on Jan. 14 at New Palestine, with the diving portion of the meet scheduled for Jan. 12. The girls’ sectional, also hosted by the Dragons, is set to begin on Feb. 2.
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Team Scores
Boys
Mt. Vernon – 98
New Palestine – 82
Girls
New Palestine – 101
Mt. Vernon – 85
Event Winners
Boys
200-Yard Medley Relay
Mt. Vernon – Blackburn, Amos, Thomas, Shepard, 1:54.50
200-Yard Freestyle
Mt. Vernon – Joshua Blackburn, 2:04.69
200-Yard IM
Mt. Vernon – Elijah Thomas, 2:23.30
50-Yard Freestyle
Mt. Vernon – Bryce Gray, 23.77
Boys Diving
New Palestine – Colin Stacey, 248.90
100-Yard Butterfly
New Palestine – Michael O’Leary, 1:01.22
100-Yard Freestyle
Mt. Vernon – Bryce Gray, 52.73
500-Yard Freestyle
Mt. Vernon – Elijah Thomas, 5:48.76
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
Mt. Vernon – Gray, Blackburn, Broaders, Morgan, 1:36.36
100-Yard Backstroke
Mt. Vernon – Joshua Blackburn, 1:00.63
100-Yard Breaststroke
New Palestine – Chase Crowder, 1:13.27
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
New Palestine – Biddle, Martin, Denger, Cabrera
Event Winners
Girls
200-Yard Medley Relay
New Palestine – Coffman, Virt, Holberton, Rogers, 2:03.88
200-Yard Freestyle
New Palestine – Courtnee Coffman, 2:09.08
200-Yard IM
Mt. Vernon – Lydia Tierney, 2:17.62
50-Yard Freestyle
New Palestine – Anna Doolin, 28.09
Girls Diving
Mt. Vernon – Maddie King, 248.90
100-Yard Butterfly
New Palestine – Jessica Rogers, 1:09.25
100-Yard Freestyle
New Palestine – Anna Doolin, 1:03.01
500-Yard Freestyle
Mt. Vernon – Lydia Tierney, 5:37.20
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
New Palestine – Coffman, Virt, Doolin, Rogers, 1:46.74
100-Yard Backstroke
New Palestine – Maria Virt, 1:11.51
100-Yard Breaststroke
Mt. Vernon – Zoey Musick, 1:19.32
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
New Palestine – Coffman, Virt, Rogers, Doolin, 4:02.87
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