NEW PALESTINE — Four years ago, Greenfield-Central head coach Emily Logan asked her team a question: “Who thinks we can win a sectional title?” As she gazed around the room, Logan only noticed a small cluster of swimmers with their arms raised in the air — the freshman class.
Four seasons later, that same group has yet to lose.
After topping the field by a wide margin Saturday at New Palestine, Greenfield-Central’s seven seniors ended their high school careers with a perfect 4-0 record in sectional championship meets.
The Cougars scored the most points in program history with 526, followed by New Palestine with 285. Dragons’ head coach Steve Maxwell was voted Coach of the Year.
Greenfield-Central, which also won the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet earlier this season, will send one relay team and two individual swimmers to state this weekend at IUPUI. Furthermore, it sends its senior class out on a high note.
“Those seven seniors are very strong for us,” Logan said. “You could see the tears. This is a special year and those seven will be missed. They have never lost a sectional.”
Centerville was third Saturday with 270 points, while Mt. Vernon was fourth with 238.5. Eastern Hancock scored 180 points, which was good enough for seventh place.
Greenfield-Central sophomore Carley Logan will swim in two individual events as the state finals this weekend at IUPUI, including the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. She won the 500 free by 14 seconds.
The Cougars also won the 400 freestyle relay, led by Logan, Braedy Laymon, Ashley Finney and Anne Marie Dekeyser. Their teammate, freshman Megan Coffin, earned the other individual win after topping the field in the 100 breaststroke.
“Our underclassmen really stepped up big and had some outstanding splits,” Logan added. “They are coming along nicely.”
Arguably the best individual performance of the day went to New Palestine senior Courtnee Coffman, who took home four blue ribbons. Coffman repeated as sectional champion in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Her time in both events (24.10 and 52.90) broke the sectional records.
Coffman also helped the Dragons’ 200 medley relay team advance to state, which includes Maria Virt, Hailee Holberton and Jessica Rogers. She then teamed with Rogers, Virt and Anna Doolin to win the 200 freestyle relay.
“I worked a lot harder in the weight room (during the offseason),” Coffman said, who transferred to the school before her junior year. “From prelims on Thursday, I didn’t feel like I was going to win. We were all so close to each other.
“My flip turns are definitely faster than most people.”
Mt. Vernon junior Lydia Tierney was her usual self and also earned repeat wins in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. She missed her own sectional record in the 100 butterfly by .20 seconds.
The Marauders also finished third in the 200 freestyle relay and fourth in the 200 medley relay.
In the diving portion of the meet, Greenfield-Central senior Shyanne Milne improved on a third-place finish from last season to earn her first sectional crown. She finished with a score of 439.95 (school record), while Mt. Vernon’s Maddie King was second with 426.50 points.
“My technique is better this year,” Milne said. “I wasn’t very consistent last year. I really just hit most of my dives today.
“Everybody on the team contributes so much. I am glad I could help.”
Milne’s teammate, Maci Montgomery, also will compete at the Plainfield Diving Regional today for a chance to go to the state finals. Montgomery finished fourth overall with a score of 379. New Palestine freshman diver Karen Shriver was fifth (330.05).
Eastern Hancock scored 78 more points than it has in the program’s history at a sectional meet and moved up two spots from last season. In addition to breaking four school records, the Royals had lifetime best swims in nearly every event from the entire roster.
“I told the girls when I got on the bus after the meet that putting words together for how I felt we did would be almost impossible,” Eastern Hancock head coach Derek McCormick said. “They made this the best year of coaching I have ever had. We rewrote the history books, saw many first times for our school and held our own against the other nine teams.”
Senior Shelby Kell broke two of her own school records. She was third in the 500 freestyle and second in the 100 backstroke.
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Team Scores
Greenfield-Central – 526
New Palestine – 285
Centerville – 270
Mt. Vernon – 238.5
Connersville – 226
Richmond – 196.5
Eastern Hancock – 180
New Castle – 140
Hagerstown – 92
Rushville – 31
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