For the Daily Reporter
NEW PALESTINE — Faced with one of its toughest tests during a lengthy sectional winning streak, the Greenfield-Central boys swimming and diving team rose to the challenge yet again.
Powered by two wins apiece from Samuel Jennings, Travis Black and Samuel Logan, the Cougars held off a strong challenge from Mt. Vernon and claimed their ninth consecutive IHSAA sectional crown Saturday at New Palestine. Greenfield-Central, which now has 10 overall sectional titles, won eight of 12 events to finish with 453.50 points. Mt. Vernon was close behind in second place with 409 points and host New Palestine placed fourth at 269. Eastern Hancock scored 180 points in sixth.
Jennings lowered his own sectional record in the 500 freestyle by the slimmest of margins — one hundredth of a second — and just missed his record in the 200 freestyle. The junior will make his third consecutive trip to the state finals.
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“I think we do a good job of keeping our culture together as a team,” Jennings said. “We have the right mindset every time we go into a meet. I think that really helps, no matter what swimmers we lose (to graduation).”
Greenfield-Central graduated a wealth of talent, including a former state champ, but they have plenty remaining, including a group of outstanding sophomores, including Black and Logan. Black cruised to wins in the 50 and 100 freestyles while Logan earned titles in the 100 fly and 100 backstroke.
“They swam with a lot of heart,” Greenfield-Central coach Mark Logan said. “We lost 12 excellent swimmers from last year. We knew the score of the meet would be a lot closer and we were going to have to fight for every position. They did that and swam well Thursday to set themselves up.”
Sectionals is a bit of a balancing act for Logan and the meet’s champions, whose ultimate focus is the state finals. The goal on Saturday was to swim well enough to get into a fast heat at state, but to also leave something in the tank.
“I was hoping to go a little bit faster but I’m happy overall,” Jennings said. “I’m hoping for a high seeding at state and have someone push me to a faster time and get into the top 16.”
Jennings, Black and Logan will be joined at state by another sophomore, Anthony Nagel, in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Greenfield-Central will be represented in the diving regional as well, as freshman Kien Dalton advanced in fourth place to Tuesday’s meet in Plainfield.
Marauders sophomore sets school record
A school record time of 58.37 in the 100 breaststroke punctuated a remarkable day for Aiden Tierney, who will make his first trip to the state finals. The Mt. Vernon sophomore was fast off the blocks in every race, dominating the individual medley and breaststroke events from the beginning. He also staked the 200 free relay to a big lead and the Marauders cruised to the title.
“I think the adrenaline from just being hyped up got me going out of the gate pretty fast,” Tierney said. “I’m excited. I didn’t taper all the way down so hopefully I have a couple more seconds I can drop. I’m hoping for top 16 — that would be nice. Our team had a really good meet. We’re catching up to Greenfield. Hopefully in a couple years we might get that sectional title.”
Mt. Vernon coach Brad Grieshop was pleased with his team’s performance and happy to see Tierney realize his goal.
“His goal was to be at state this year and he went out and did it,” Grieshop said. “He started out on fire and he carried that into the 100 breaststroke and set a school record. It was a great day for him. Our goal is to compete at the top. That’s what we strive for every year.”
The Marauders now set their sights on the state meet. Logan Schomaker, James Demircioglu and Kaylen Morgan will join Tierney in the 200 free relay.
New Palestine’s Stacey dominates diving
After sitting out his sophomore year due to a back injury, New Palestine diver Colin Stacey came back with a vengeance Saturday at his home pool. He scored 462.40 points to secure his first sectional championship. Stacey saved some of his best for last and finished with a forward triple somersault that earned 7s and 7.5s from the judges.
“He dove consistently,” New Palestine diving coach Jason Tillage said. “He hadn’t had a championship meet in over a year and a half. It was great to see him on the board. I think he was excited to do something and (this meet) was a great place to do it.”
Tillage knows his junior diver is looking for more, including his first trip to state. As a freshman, he placed third in sectionals and 15th in regionals.
“He was kind of off on his forward approaches — probably nerves more than anything,” Tillage said. “He’s shooting for some (higher) scores. There’s definitely some things to tweak.”
New Palestine’s swimmers contributed by placing fourth in all three relay events. Tyler Corey added a fifth place in the 50 freestyle and Jackson Schwartz placed fifth in the 100 freestyle.
Henderson leads Eastern Hancock
Junior Garret Henderson led the way for Eastern Hancock with fourth place finishes in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
The Royals also earned fifth in the 200 free relay.
The IHSAA state finals begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the famed Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. Diving prelims and semifinals follow at 9 a.m. Saturday. Consolations and finals for all events begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.
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IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving Sectional at New Palestine
Team Scores: Greenfield-Central 453.50, Mt. Vernon 409, Richmond 271, New Palestine 269, Connersville 212, Eastern Hancock 180, New Castle 143.50, Centerville 119, Hagerstown 67.
Hancock County Swimmers in Top Five
200 medley relay: 1. Greenfield-Central (Samuel Jennings, Anthony Nagel, Samuel Logan, Travis Black) 1:36.92, 2. Mt. Vernon (Aiden Tierney, Evan Flick, Joe Shepard, Kaylen Morgan) 1:40.98, 4. New Palestine (Marlon Cabrera, Chase Siler, Tyler Corey, Jackson Schwartz) 1:47.27.
200 freestyle: 1. Jennings (GC) 1:44.68, 2. Cole Worley (MV) 1:52.46, 3. Logan Schomaker (MV) 1:53.72, 4. Garret Henderson (EH) 1:55.26.
200 IM: 1. Tierney (MV) 1:55.63, 2. Nagel (GC) 1:59.85, 4. Eli Thomas (MV) 2:09.86, 5. Shepard (MV) 2:10.10.
50 freestyle: 1. Black (GC) 21.27, 4. Michael Joven (GC) 23.35, 5. Tyler Corey (NP) 23.75.
Diving: 1. Colin Stacey (NP) 462.40, 4. Kien Dalton (GC) 315.20, 5. Jack Mays (GC) 290.60
100 butterfly: 1. Logan (GC) 53.39, 2. Shepard (MV) 55.85, 3. Jackson Pechin (GC) 56.01, 4. Morgan (MV) 57.20.
100 freestyle: 1. Black (GC) 47.75, 3. Schomaker (MV) 51.20, 5. Schwartz (NP) 51.80.
500 freestyle: 1. Jennings (GC) 4:44.16 (sectional record), 2. Worley (MV) 5:07.48, 4. Henderson (EH) 5:13.08, 5. Matthew McDaniel (EH) 5:15.19.
200 freestyle relay: 1. Mt. Vernon (Tierney, Schomaker, James Demircioglu, Morgan) 1:33.02, 2. Greenfield-Central (M. Joven, Daniel Joven, Ethan Blakely, Pechin) 1:36.44, 4. New Palestine (Damon Estes, Chase Siler, Ben Miesse, Kyle Ellis) 1:38.76, 5. Eastern Hancock (Aaron Surburg, Gage Deiser, Luken Edwards, Henderson) 1:39.06.
100 backstroke: 1. Logan (GC) 54.42, 2. Morgan (MV) 57.40, 3. Thomas (MV) 58.12, 5. Aidan Murphy (MV) 1:00.53.
100 breaststroke: 1. Tierney (MV) 58.37, 2. Nagel (GC) 1:00.76, 3. Andrew Noah (GC) 1:01.89.
400 freestyle relay: 1. Greenfield-Central (Black, Logan, Nagel, Jennings) 3:17.79, 2. Mt. Vernon (Schomaker, Worley, Demircioglu, Shepard) 3:29.11, 4. New Palestine (Corey, Schwartz, Cabrera, Estes) 3:36.45.
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