FORTVILLE — Neither side was at full strength Monday night, but regardless of being shorthanded due to COVID-19 quarantines, the Mt. Vernon Marauders and the Greenfield-Central Cougars refused to let up.
Not with the Hoosier Heritage Conference swimming and diving championships only days away at New Palestine, beginning Thursday for the girls and Saturday for the boys.
Among those focused on gaining momentum prior to this week’s HHC opportunity was Mt. Vernon senior Aiden Tierney, who claimed four first-place finishes for the host Marauders, including a pair of relay wins.
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Behind their senior leaders, the Marauders boys defeated defending HHC champion Greenfield-Central 109-74 to improve to 5-0 in duals this season and 3-0 against league opponents. The Greenfield-Central girls won 116-67.
“Obviously, it’s super encouraging to win by this much in a dual meet. We know they have a lot of swimmers out because of COVID, and I’m not sure if those swimmers will be back (Saturday), but we’re definitely going into conference with a lot confidence,” Tierney said. “We think it’s going to be a really good meet.”
Depth proved the catalyst for the Marauders boys, once again, similar to their recent victories over HHC foes Delta and New Palestine.
Tierney, Aidan Murphy, Brady Gray and Evan Flick won the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 43.75 seconds, but they weren’t done with just one.
Tierney also teamed with Logan Schomaker, Gray and Flick to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:37.37.
Flick was first in the 200 free (1:57.34) with Murphy second at 1:59.25. Gray won the 50 free in 22.92, Tierney captured the 100 butterfly in 53.51, and Gray was first in the 100 free in 50.71. Tierney won the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.77.
“Outside of knowing who Greenfield didn’t have, there were a lot of good swims and a lot of best-season times both on the boys and the girls side,” Mt. Vernon swim coach Brad Grieshop said. “It is absolutely, 100 percent a confidence boost for them going into this weekend.”
The Greenfield-Central boys competed without state contender Travis Black, a senior, among others, due to contact tracing quarantines, which will keep them from participating in the HHC meet this weekend.
The Cougars girls were also without a handful of swimmers due to quarantines.
“It’s hit big time in the past few days. I lost three girls today. I already sent in my lineup here, had to revamp. Already sent in my conference (lineup) ready to go, and we had to totally revamp that, so it’s one of those frustrating times,” G-C girls coach Emily Logan said. “But, you’re also like, it’s a time the kids understand they have to be ready, step up, work hard because you never know when you’re going to be thrown in.”
The G-C girls won the 200 medley relay in 2:00.66 behind Mary Ellen Stratman, Norah Johnson, Ellei Coleman and Cecelia Johnson.
Coleman was first in the 200 IM in 2:23.81, while Reagan Crouch won the 50 free in 27.59 ahead of Johnson (28.58).
Crouch was the 1-meter diving winner with 194.65 points, followed by Avery Davis (136.60) and Emily Jones (131.60) to give the Cougars a 1-2-3 finish.
Stratman prevailed in the 100 butterfly (1:03.49) and 100 backstroke (1:05.79), Norah Johnson won the 100 free (56.74) and the 100 breaststroke (1:11.98), and Audrey Brinkruff was first in the 500 free (6:12.40).
Cecelia Johnson, Stratman, Coleman and Norah Johnson won the 400 free relay in 4:02.08.
“They did a nice job. It’s hard, and it’s frustrating to see all their hard work that they put in and then one day, it’s gone,” Emily Logan said. “I feel worse for the guys because of their streak of 10 in a row at conference. Travis (Black) doesn’t even get to swim his senior conference and finish up the way you want your seniors to finish out, which is strong and well.”
The Cougars boys earned victories from Clay Griffin in the 200 IM (2:11.72), Alex Jahrsdoerfer in diving (222.00), Anthony Nagel in the 500 free (5:06.32), Sam Logan in the 100 backstroke (57.17), and from Michael Joven, Griffin, Logan and Nagel in the 400 free relay (3:31.27).
“We do a leadership series, and I’ve been talking about ‘Pop Quiz.’ Everybody knows what a pop quiz is. It’s how you respond that makes all the difference. In life, we get all these pop quizzes and it’s kind of a test to measure maturity, responsibility and how you’re going to respond,” G-C boys swim coach Mark Logan said. “This is going to be a season of pop quizzes.”
The Mt. Vernon girls scored wins from Annelise Hiner in the 200 free (2:12.77) and from Maddie Moore, Emme Grubbs, Gail Crouch and Hiner in the 200 free relay (1:53.65).
Up next for both programs is the HHC meet, which opens on Thursday with girls diving and girls swimming on Friday. The boys will compete throughout on Saturday.
The Greenfield-Central boys have won 10 consecutive HHC team titles, but the Marauders are aiming to potentially end the streak.
“It’s our goal. It’s obviously on all our minds, the coaches, the swimmers, the divers, it’s all there. Tonight is a confidence boost, but anything can happen come Saturday. You just never know from now and Saturday,” Grieshop said. “But, it’s definitely a goal of ours to go in and compete and hopefully come out with the title.”
