NEW PALESTINE — While its time to ramp up is more than a week away, the Mt. Vernon boys swimming team is right on pace.
Unbeaten prior to Tuesday night’s rivalry dual against host New Palestine, the Marauders shook off a five-day layoff and helped the boys and girls squads split with the Dragons on the road.
The Mt. Vernon boys won the evening, 118-65, while the New Palestine girls prevailed 110-71.
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Though only a warm up through the first leg of the season, both programs are eyeing progression with the Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet approaching quickly on Dec. 17-19, back at New Palestine High School.
With the victory, the Mt. Vernon boys improved to 4-0 in duals this season and captured their second straight win over an HHC foe. Last Thursday, the upperclassmen-led Marauders defeated host Delta, 103-82.
The experienced Marauders showed their age by claiming nine events against the Dragons.
“Everyone is adjusting and each meet presents its own challenges,” Mt. Vernon head coach Brad Grieshop said. “We’re swimming well for this time of the season. It’s always nerve-wracking when you come off a really long break like we’ve had. How are they going to respond to it? And, they’ve done really well.”
The Marauders were powered by their seniors with Evan Flick taking first in the 200-yard IM in 2 minutes, 13.29 seconds. He was trailed by senior Aiden Murphy in 2:17.01.
Murphy, senior James Demircioglu, junior Caleb Strege and sophomore Ethan Murphy teamed to win the 200 medley relay in 1:51.93. Sophomore Matthew Garey took the 200 freestyle in 1:59.20.
Brady Gray, a sophomore standout, added the 100 butterfly (58.16) and joined Flick, Garey and sophomore Camden Cave to win the 400 free relay (3:41.42).
From there, it was seniors Logan Schomaker, Aiden Murphy and Aiden Tierney.
Schomaker won the 100 backstroke in 1:04.12, Murphy claimed the 500 free in 5:35.83, while Tierney grabbed a pair of events.
Tierney, who placed 12th in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 breaststroke at state last year, won the 100 free in 54.48 against the Dragons. He also edged out Flick (1:06.28) in the 100 breaststroke with a winning time of 1:00.19.
“Our big goal is obviously getting (Tierney) out of sectional, making sure he’s in the right state physically and mentally to get through sectional, knowing his big time will be the end of February at state again,” Grieshop said. “He’s done some good work in the offseason, and we’re seeing a big dividend from that right now.”
New Palestine’s boys earned a win in the 50 free with senior Jack Schwartz (23.98). The 200 free relay team won behind sophomore Chase Martin, junior Ben Miesse, junior Quincy Shirk and Schwartz in 1:37.90.
The Dragons finished 1-2 in 1-meter diving with senior Austin Lines winning with 182.25 points ahead of senior Darrell Drake (152.25).
“I like Brad, it’s fun for us when we compete. I don’t like losing. I don’t think anybody likes losing, but they have a good senior class of boys,” New Palestine head coach Jason Tillage said. “Those boys are just like Greenfield’s senior class, it’s tough to hang with those guys right now, and with us, we didn’t get a lot of weight time with the pandemic, but I think once we hit the weights, the guys will muscle up a little bit and it should be a good sectional.”
The Dragons’ girls, who gained some confidence a week ago despite losing to Greenfield-Central 115-71, made an impression by seizing nine events.
“They worked really hard. We have a very young team. A sophomore-led team. We have seniors, of course, but that sophomore class is strong, and we have a few freshmen that are just phenomenal and helping us out,” Tillage said. “It’s just great to see.”
Freshman Adrianna Huston provided a spark with a win in the 200 free (2:08.11), while freshman Sullie Leavell won the 200 IM (2:31.46).
Sophomore Kyleigh Turner was first in the 50 free (27.08) and won the 100 free (1:00.68). Huston secured the 500 free (5:51.19), and sophomore Lillie Poag was the winner in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.66).
The Dragons’ 200 free relay of Leavell, Turner, Huston and sophomore Katelyn Trimpe won in 1:52.31. The foursome claimed the 400 free relay as well in 4:08.75.
Senior Samantha Booe gave the Dragons a victory in the 1-meter diving competition with 143.95 points. Freshman Izzy Napier was second at 126.50.
“We had Greenfield last week, and that gave them a lot of confidence. They know think, they’re not that far out of this. They have a shot at shocking some people and doing some things,” Tillage said. “I just want them to compete, and they do that day in and day out.”
The Marauders’ girls garnered points from seniors Maddie Moore and Gail Crouch.
Moore won the 100 backstroke in 1:09.75. Crouch took the 100 butterfly (1:08.44) and then later joined Crouch, junior Ila Boston and freshman Emme Grubbs to win the 200 medley relay in 2:07.97.
“We got some really high expectations and high goals out of both teams, and they’re working towards that right now,” Grieshop said. “This senior class is definitely special and hold a big spot in Mt. Vernon history that’s for sure.”
Up next, the Marauders host HHC rival Greenfield-Central on Monday. The Dragons host Eastern Hancock and New Castle in a tri-meet on Thursday.
