Here is a look at the girls swimming preview:
Greenfield-Central
Head Coach: Emily Logan
Key Returners: Maci Montgomery, Carley Logan, Meghan Coffman
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Outlook: Greenfield-Central’s girls swim team returns this season to defend a four-year sectional championship streak. Additionally, head coach Emily Logan sees potential to not only have several swimmers qualify for state but to place there as well.
Logan has ambitious hopes for the Cougars this season despite losing some of the team’s most valuable assets after several team leaders graduated last year.
“We graduated out seven senior girls who were great point scorers, but what we got in, freshman wise, and what we have existing, we’re set,” Logan said. “Our depth is usually our key to everything.”
Returning underclassmen and incoming freshmen will have their chance to prove themselves as the team heads back to the pool this season.
“We have a lot of girls that maybe didn’t get a shot last year because of the other talent we had,” she added. “They’ll have some great opportunities this year. They’ll have their chance to shine.”
First up: The Greenfield-Central Cougars girls swim team will compete at the Turkey Breast Women’s Invitational at Greenfield-Central High School on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.
New Palestine
Head Coach: Steve Maxwell
Key Returners: Hailee Holberton, Jessica Rogers, Maria Virt, Ana Doolin
Outlook: With a roster of 32 girls, the Dragons girls swimming team is significantly larger than it has been in previous years, said head coach Steve Maxwell. The increase in numbers can be exciting, he said, yet daunting.
Courtney Coffman, a two-time sectional champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, graduated from New Palestine last year and is swimming at Franklin College. Her points will be hard to make up for, but the team is methodically assessing the new swimmers’ abilities, Maxwell said.
“When there’s literally 15 new girls, I don’t even know what they might be capable of,” Maxwell said.
First up: The Dragons will face off against Roncalli and Greenwood at New Palestine High School on Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Hancock
Head Coach: Derek McCormick
Key Returners: Elisa Huffman, Tatum Troffit
Outlook: Eastern Hancock’s first collegiate-bound swimmer Shelby Kell graduated in 2017 with a stunning career record of 26 first place wins.
Despite losing Kell — as well as returning swimmer Ellie Griesmeyer, who is temporarily out with a shoulder injury — Eastern Hancock is holding out to stay competitive, head coach Derek McCormick said.
With a team of nine girls, the Royals have their sights set on winning the Lawrenceburg invitational for a second year in a row.
“We’ve already hit [last season’s] best at practice without the season even starting,” McCormick said. “A lot of people have gotten even faster than last year.”
First up: The Eastern Hancock Royals will compete in a three-way meet Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at New Castle against the Batesville Bulldogs and the New Castle Trojans.
Mt. Vernon
Head Coach: Brad Grieshop
Key Returners: Lydia Tierney, Maddie Mull, Zoey Musek
Outlook: The Marauders are diving into this season with a new head coach and a legion of young athletes. More than half of Mt. Vernon’s girls swim team are freshmen, said head coach Brad Grieshop.
The team will rely on returning swimmers like senior Lydia Tierney to lead the squad, keep points on the board and to move on to state in individual events.
“She’s just a great all-around swimmer,” Grieshop said. “She has a knack for the sport, and she understands how to excel.”
But the primary goal right now is training the new starters and showing them what it means to be on a competitive team, he said. An important lesson to teach the freshmen is that collective goals take precedence over the individual.
“Everybody is bringing something to the pool,” Grieshop said. “It’s the team we’re really focusing on, not any individual swimmer.”
First up: The Marauders will take on the Richmond Red Devils at Richmond High School on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.
