NEW PALESTINE — Powered by a trio of double-event winners, including one of the state’s top sprinters, the Greenfield-Central boys swimming and diving team won its 10th consecutive IHSAA sectional championship Saturday at New Palestine.
The Cougars captured eight events and finished with a winning total of 457 points. Mt. Vernon, led by two wins from Aiden Tierney, placed second with 290 points while host New Palestine finished fourth with 258 points behind a diving victory from Colin Stacey.
Greenfield-Central junior Travis Black solidified his status as a legitimate state-title contender by shattering sectional records in both the 50-yard freestyle (20.57) and 100 free (45.75).
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Senior distance specialist Samuel Jennings lowered his own sectional records in the 200 free and 500 free, while junior Samuel Logan returned to state with victories in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
“We talked about how special it is to get 10 in a row,” Greenfield-Central coach Mark Logan said. “Very few teams have been able to accomplish that. We’ve talked about the legacy and all the guys that have paved the way to allow this to happen. We’re swimming for them as well.”
Black had arguably the most eye-opening performances of the night and hopes to improve upon his sixth-place state finish in the 50 free from last year.
“I’m really excited for next week,” Black said. “I want to go sub-20 but really top 8 — and if I can possibly win. Anything’s possible.”
Black is also looking to move up in the 100 free, an event he placed 15th in last year’s state.
“He’s a cool, collected kid,” coach Logan said. “I think he’ll handle the pressure well. I know Travis is looking forward to the competition as he really hasn’t had that all year.”
Jennings had little competition in the distance events Saturday, but he still managed to crush his 200 free record by over a second. He was happy with his swims and the overall team performance.
“I remember as a freshman, I said to some of our guys it would be pretty cool to win 10. Here we are today still going strong even though we have a bunch of new guys. I think we proved who we are as a team. Culture goes a long way.”
Jennings, who placed 10th in the 500 free last year, is looking for a podium finish this time around. His teammate Samuel Logan hopes to be swimming on Saturday as well.
“I didn’t go as fast as I wanted, but we’re only midway through our taper so I’m hoping to get faster and make the top 16,” Logan said. “We’re hoping to get top eight in the medley relay as well.”
Logan, Black and Jennings joined forces with junior Anthony Nagel in winning the medley and 400 free relays. Coach Logan said Nagel’s second-place breaststroke time of 59.23 was also fast enough to make the field of 32.
Tierney breaks record, returns to state in two events
Mt. Vernon’s talented junior set the stage early for the Marauders by blistering the field with a sectional-record time of 1:54.49 in the 200 IM. He followed it up with a winning swim of 57.83 in the breaststroke and joined forces with Brady Gray, Cole Worley and Evan Flick to win the 200 free relay.
“I’m not tapered all the way down and I didn’t feel my best today so I’m hoping to swim a lot faster at state,” Tierney said. “If I make (top eight) in one event I’ll be happy with that, but yes, the end goal is to make the podium in both.”
Tierney just missed the top 16 in the IM last year and was four hundredths of a second away from the top eight in the breaststroke.
“It’s leaning toward a really great state meet for Aiden,” Mt. Vernon coach Brad Grieshop said. “He’s by far faster than he was at the sectional meet last year. We’re looking for some more time drops next weekend.”
Overall, Grieshop was thrilled with the effort of his team, which continues to put pressure on the county-rival Cougars.
“We just couldn’t be happier with this group of kids,” Grieshop said. “We’re getting more kids in the top eight and top 16 every year. You’ll keep seeing those scores get closer and closer. I think it’s going to be a really good meet for years to come.”
Worley, a senior, added impressive runner-up finishes in both the 200 free and 500 free.
“We swam amazing,” Tierney said. “I think there has been a lot of progression over the years. It used to be more of an individual sport but we’re really starting to form more chemistry within the team and that’s helping us swim faster.”
New Pal’s Stacey dominates diving, leads Dragons
Diving standout Colin Stacey broke the 500-point barrier for the first time and successfully defended his sectional championship from 2019 with a winning score of 520.90. The top-four divers advance to the regional tournament Tuesday at Brownsburg.
The New Pal senior will be joined by Greenfield-Central’s Kien Dalton, who placed second, and teammate Austin Lines, who finished fourth.
After placing 11th at state last year, Stacey is seeking a higher finish this time around.
“I definitely want to podium,” Stacey said. “I think that’s my primary goal. I didn’t compete that much last year and the full year before that I didn’t compete at all.”
A back injury that limited him the previous two seasons is much improved and he’s showing what he can do.
“Colin dove three or four meets before sectionals last year — whatever he had to do to be eligible for sectionals,” New Palestine coach Jason Tillage said. “He feels incomplete from last year and he knows he wants to get on that podium and I believe he can do it.”
The Dragons held their own in the pool as well, posting a third-place finish in the 200 free relay with a team of Damon Estes, Ben Miesse, Chase Siler and Jackson Schwartz. Schwartz also placed fourth in both the 50 free and 100 free.
“I thought our 200 free relay really had a chance to do something and they did well,” Tillage said. “They all swam personal bests to get there. It was a great swim.”
Eastern Hancock breaks school records
The small but spirited Eastern Hancock contingent had plenty of success as well Saturday with two new school records. Sophomore Matthew McDaniel set a new mark in the 200 IM with a sixth-place time of 2:11.07, while fellow sophomore Ryan Dagley broke the breaststroke record with a swim of 1:10.30.
“I’m excited — the boys showed up today,” Eastern Hancock assistant coach Mike Dolence said. “They had a great meet.”
Aaron Surburg added an eighth-place swim of 1:02.82 in the 100 backstroke.
