GREENFIELD — Winning 10 straight sectional titles and consistently advancing swimmers from the preliminary round to a state ‘B’ final, Greenfield-Central’s girls swimming team reloads instead of rebuilds.
After graduating six seniors, including two four-time state qualifiers and multiple school-record holders in Norah Johnson and Mary Ellen Stratman, the Cougars still appear set to have a really strong season.
There are plenty of veterans with state meet experience returning along with a strong freshman class.
“We did graduate out some strong leadership and strong swimmers, but we still have a really strong group and a group that has good experience at the state level,” Greenfield-Central head coach Emily Logan said. “You add in this new crew of freshmen and it’s a deep team.”
Alyssa Osborn, CeCe Johnson, Rachel Stutz and Selah Vahle were all part of last year’s state meet.
Osborn, CeCe Johnson and Stutz were all part of individual or relay swims that earned spots and scored team points by competing in the state meet’s B finals (places ninth-16th).
Osborn scored for the team with a 16th in last year’s state 200-yard individual medley and was on two scoring relay teams. The 200 medley group, which also included Stutz, placed 13th, and the 200 freestyle relay team that had Stutz and CeCe Johnson finished 15th.
Osborn was also 21st in the 100 breaststroke prelims.
CeCe Johnson was 24th in the state 200 freestyle race and swam with Vahle on last year’s 400 freestyle relay group that was 19th. Stutz was 29th in the 50 freestyle.
Taylor Parsons, who often was right behind Stratman in events last season, is another swimmer Logan expects to be a key competitor this season.
Of those top returnees, only CeCe Johnson is a senior. Osborn, Parsons and Stutz are juniors and Vahle is a sophomore.
Logan has four solid freshmen she expects to be big additions to the team. Kaylie Butler, Katie Jennings, Caroline Felver and Josie Kinnaman have all done extremely well at the junior high and club level.
“That feeder system with our club team is huge and keeps feeding right into the next group,” Logan said. She has nine freshmen on this year’s roster of 22.
“Those younger kids watch the older kids,” the coach added. “I’ve seen them up in the stands over the last few years watching and waiting for their turn. They are excited to be a part of that and continue that legacy moving forward. It’s fun to watch and fun to watch them grow up through the program and move in to that next level.”
Logan said Butler’s top event is the breaststroke. Jennings is a strong as a distance swimmer and Felver is very good in the backstroke. Kinnaman is a versatile swimmer in the IM and sprints and the group should help make up some strong relay teams.
“We’ve got great people coming in filling those shoes of those that just walked out the door,” Logan said.
The returnees should be in similar spots as last year, with Osborn being one of the top swimmers in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. “She’s a beast in those (races),” Logan said. “CeCe is a great distance kid and Stutz is a great sprinter.”
Logan added that Parsons, an IM swimmer last year, is strong in the backstroke and butterfly. Vahle adds to the freestyle group.
“She’s a racer and a phenomenal relay swimmer,” Logan added on the state-qualifying Vahle.
Three of the team’s four seniors are divers. That group is led by veterans Avery Davis, Kersey Hudson and Emily Jones-Estelle.
Greenfield-Central has won multiple sectionals and Hoosier Heritage Conference titles in Logan’s 11 years as head coach.
One thing they are missing is having a swimmer reach that top 8 race on the Saturday of the state finals meet.
“Our big goal for our girls, we want to have a top eight finisher at the state level,” Logan said. “We get real close, but we haven’t quite got to the top eight and get on that podium. I know they are hungry for that. We’ve crossed off the others. We want that next level to get to the top eight.”
Norah Johnson was 10th in two races last season, finishing second in two consolation finals races, the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard freestyle.
“I’m excited to watch this group. They already gel together as a team,” Logan said. “They are fun, light-hearted and they work hard. I’m excited to watch them as this season progresses. And those freshmen, I think they are going to make things a little more high level and high energy.”
“You graduate out a group and your heart is a little sad, and then you get that next pump of energy of crazy freshmen in that have no idea yet what they are about to go to. It’s a lot of fun and this is a fun group.”
Greenfield-Central opens Saturday at the home pool with the Kathy Dowling Invitational.
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2023-24 Greenfield-Central girls swimming schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 18;Kathy Dowling Invitational;10 a.m.
Nov. 21;at Franklin Central;6 p.m.
Nov. 28;vs. New Palestine;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 2;at Hall of Fame Classic (Franklin);10 a.m.
Dec. 7;at Pendleton Heights;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 11;vs. Mt. Vernon;5:30 p.m.
Jan. 2;at Greenwood;6 p.m.
Jan. 6;at HHC Diving (New Palestine);9 a.m.
Jan. 6;at HHC Swimming (New Palestine);1 p.m.
Jan. 15;vs. Yorktown;6 p.m.
Jan. 18;at Shelbyville;5:30 p.m.
Jan. 19;at Warrior Diving Invitational (Warren Central);6 p.m.
