Been there, want more: State-qualifying swimmers, divers aiming higher this time around

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Greenfield-Central's Samuel Jennings competes in the men's 200-yard freestyle at the HHC swim meet on Dec. 21, 2019.(Rob Baker/Daily Reporter) By: Rich Torres | Daily Reporter

HANCOCK COUNTY — The IHSAA Swimming and Diving State Finals meet is like no other.

The last meet of the high school season brings in the best from throughout the state.

In Indiana, though, it’s a little different.

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No other state has the history and worldwide sport-relevance of Indiana’s venue that will crown numerous individual and a team champion on Saturday night.

The IU Natatorium in Indianapolis is a world-class facility.

It’s hosted Olympic trials, world events, national championships and has been the site for world and national records. This weekend it is the home for the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals. It hosted the state’s girls’ event two weeks ago.

The most decorated of swimmers, Michael Phelps set a world record in the 400-meter individual medley at the pool in 2003.

“It’s like no other facility, with the atmosphere and the number of people (in attendance),” Greenfield-Central coach Mark Logan said. “It’s not like any other meet. It’s a unique event.”

Logan will have swimmers, and one diver, in 11 of the 12 events, beginning with Friday’s 6 p.m. preliminary round.

Hancock County will be well-represented as Mt. Vernon will have participants in three events. New Palestine has a regional-champion diver in Colin Stacey.

A big key in an event of this magnitude is being prepared for the ‘atmosphere.’

Nearly all of the area’s qualifiers have been there before.

Greenfield-Central’s lone senior, Samuel Jennings is in the state meet for the fourth time. Jennings and fellow Cougars Travis Black, Anthony Nagel and Samuel Logan, all juniors, participated last year, too.

Black was sixth in last year’s 50-yard freestyle final. He has the second-best time going into Friday’s prelims, swimming a school-record 20.57 in last week’s sectional. He has the eighth-best time in the 100 freestyle, again setting a new school mark (45.75) in last week’s sectional. He placed 15th last year in the 100.

In the preliminary round, the top eight — of 32 competitors — in each event return for Saturday’s finals to compete for a state title. Those placing from ninth to 16th will swim for points and in Saturday’s consolation B Final.

Black is the only area swimmer seeded in the top eight, though Mt. Vernon junior Aiden Tierney is on the cusp in the 100 breaststroke. He is No. 9 at 57.83 seconds.

Tierney knows what it’s like to be, oh so close. He was 17th in the 200 IM last year, missing out on a Saturday swim by .19 seconds. He placed 12th in the breaststroke B final, but just missed qualifying for the finals even by .04 seconds.

Jennings, Nagel, Samuel Logan and Black are No. 12 in the 200 medley relay. Jennings is No. 16 in the 200 freestyle after a school-record performance of 1:42.95 last week. He is also No. 16 in the 500 freestyle (4:43.55), an event he placed 10th in last year. Tierney is No. 16 in the 200 IM (1:54.49).

Just outside the top 16 is Greenfield-Central’s 400 freestyle relay group of Black, Logan, Nagel and Jennings. They are No. 18 at 3:13.55.

“Last year was great for experience and getting the feel of it,” coach Logan said of all the returnees that are back for another try.

“Our primary expectation is, we want a second swim,” Logan added on his team. “To make it to Friday is great, but Saturday swims are where we score points.”

Stacey scored points for the Dragons in last year’s meet and he could be set up to score a bunch more this weekend.

Stacey finished 11th in last year’s state finals. He was 15th after prelims (which take place Saturday morning at 9 a.m.) prior to improving his finish in the finals.

He is coming off winning Tuesday’s Brownsburg Regional. Stacey’s score of 530.45 is third best of those that will compete this weekend.

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2020 IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals

Event;Participant;School;Time;Seed

200-yard medley relay;Samuel Jennings, Anthony Nagel, Samuel Logan, Travis Black;Greenfield-Central;1:35.50;12th

200-yard freestyle;Samuel Jennings;Greenfield-Central;1:42.95;16th

200-yard IM;Aiden Tierney;Mt. Vernon;1:54.49;16th

200-yard IM;Anthony Nagel;Greenfield-Central;1:56.14;21st

50-yard freestyle;Travis Black;Greenfield-Central;20.57;2nd

1-meter diving; Colin Stacey;New Palestine;530.45*;1st*

1-meter diving;Kien Dalton;Greenfield-Central;409.85*;6th*

100-yard butterfly; Samuel Logan;Greenfield-Central;52.31;26th

100-yard freestyle;Travis Black;Greenfield-Central;45.75;8th

500-yard freestyle;Samuel Jennings;Greenfield-Central;4:43.55;16th

200-yard freestyle relay;Aiden Tierney, Brady Gray, Cole Worley, Evan Flick; Mt. Vernon;1:30.38;30th

100-yard backstroke;Samuel Logan;Greenfield-Central;54.07;28th

100-yard breaststroke;Aiden Tierney;Mt. Vernon;57.83;9th

100-yard breaststroke;Anthony Nagel;Greenfield-Central;59.23;27th

400-freestyle relay;Travis Black, Samuel Logan, Anthony Nagel, Samuel Jennings;Greenfield-Central;3:13.55;18th

*Points and placing from the Brownsburg Regional

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