NEW PALESTINE — Hancock County’s dominant swim program picked up a sweep over one of its rivals, but Tuesday’s meet at the New Palestine High School Natatorium was far from the same.
Greenfield-Central’s boys, winners of 10 straight sectional and Hoosier Heritage Conference meets, defeated their neighbors and hosts 107-73.
The Cougars’ girls program, that has won seven straight sectionals and are back-to-back winners in the HHC, were 115-71 winners.
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Both programs were without a few swimmers due to contact tracing quarantine. The meet was also different in its set up with all swimmers stationed in the upstairs seating area, keeping their social distance, before coming down to the pool deck as it got closer to their specific events.
The meet was much closer than last year’s contest at Greenfield-Central, where the Cougars boys won 128-58 and the girls were winners by a 150-35 count.
“It was great to kind of be able to compete with them a little bit tonight,” said New Palestine coach Jason Tillage, who was coached by G-C boys coach Mark Logan when he was a diver at Warren Central High School. He said he considers Mark and his wife, Emily Logan, the Greenfield-Central girls’ coach, like family.
“I thought our kids swam phenomenally,” Tillage added. All I asked from my kids was to go out there and compete and they did just that.
“They went out there and competed. We had a lot of personal bests tonight and I couldn’t be prouder of both teams, guys and girls.”
In the boys contest, Greenfield-Central won nine of 12 events.
State-placer Travis Black (50-yard freestyle, 21:46; 100 backstroke, 59.10) and state qualifiers Sam Logan (100 butterfly, 54.59; 500 freestyle, 5:02.16) and Anthony Nagel (200 IM, 2:05.61; 100 breaststroke, 1:03.00) each won two individual races and combined with Michael Joven in the 200 medley (1:45.11) and Tyler Osborn in the 400 freestyle (3:30.06) relays.
Derek Noah (2:02.83) edged New Palestine’s Kyle Ellis (2:03.09) to win the 200 freestyle.
“I’m pleased with the way we’re progressing under the circumstances. It’s different training from what we’re used to,” Greenfield-Central boys coach Mark Logan said. “You have to make adjustments in training, but overall they’re working hard.”
It was just the second meet for his team and it was the first for the New Pal boys squad.
New Palestine had wins in diving from Austin Lines (186.00), Jack Schwartz in the 100 freestyle and Quincy Shirk, Chase Martin, Ben Miesse and Schwartz in the 200 free relay (1:38.58)
Greenfield-Central’s girls also won nine events.
Mary Ellen Stratman and Norah Johnson were double winners in individual events and were also part of two relay victories.
Stratman won the 100 butterfly (1:03.96) and 100 backstroke (1:05.57). Johnson was victorious in the 50 freestyle (26.20) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.68). They teamed with Ellei Coleman and Reagan Crouch to win the 200 medley relay (2:01.76) and Coleman and Ariel Niemeier in the 400 freestyle relay (4:01.03).
Coleman added a win in the 200 IM (2:24.07), while Niemeier was first to touch in the 200 freestyle (2:10.77).
The versatile Crouch won the 1-meter diving with a score of 193.40.
New Palestine frosh Adrianna Huston won the 100 freestyle (59.33). Katelyn Trimpe took the top spot in the 500 freestyle (6:04.38). Trimpe also anchored the victorious 200 freestyle relay team (1:51.15) with Huston, Sullie Leavell and Kyleigh Turner.
“They did well,” Emily Logan said of her team. “We’re like every team, we’re missing parts and pieces at different times. We had one lineup ready to go tonight and lost one during the day today.
“We’re waiting on a few to get back and a few have come back but aren’t back up to par yet. It’s definitely an interesting year, but people are stepping up in a variety of different spots. We’re getting people a chance to swim some events they don’t normally get to swim.”
Tillage added, “You’re not sure who you’re going to have, but these girls did a great job tonight.”
