Using its superior depth, Carmel reclaimed the IHSAA boys swimming and diving state championship on Saturday, February 24, 2001 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

After a three-year absence from the podium’s top spot, the Greyhounds easily outdistanced the competition racking up 274.5 points, 80 points better than runner-up North Central of Indianapolis with 194.5. Fort Wayne Concordia placed third with 174, Hamilton Southeastern was fourth at 146 and three-time defending state champion Columbus North was fifth at 118.

Carmel won two relay events (200 and 400 freestyle relays) and finished second in another that accounted for 114 points, but the Greyhounds also had 19 individuals in the championship and consolation finals that scored. Overall, Carmel scored in nine of the 12 events.

The Greyhounds were coached by first-year leader Ken Stopkotte, who also guided the Carmel girls team to its 15^th consecutive state championship two weeks ago.

It was the school’s eighth state title in the last 12 years in boys swimming and the third in a sport this school year (girls soccer).

Two state meet records fell during the day’s action. Senior Ryan Wochomurka of Columbus North won his second event by setting the new standard in the 100 freestyle at :44.36 edging defending champion Michael Stoller of Bremen who touched in :45.65. The previous mark of :44.47 was held by Bloomington South’s Manuel Guzman set at the 1988-89 meet. Wochomurka had earlier won the 200 individual medley with a winning effort of 1:51.37.

The other record was set in the one meter diving competition in which senior Phillip Jones of Hamilton Southeastern accumulated 623.90 points smashing the 23-year old mark of 576.05 points held by Chris Chelich of Munster in the 1977-78 meet. It was the oldest record standing.

Besides Wochomurka, two others collected two state championships.

Senior Matt McDonald of Hamilton Southeastern picked up two titles winning his third consecutive championship in the 100 butterfly in :48.18, just off his state meet record mark of :48.06 a year ago. And after a runner-up finish last year, McDonald also made off with the crown in the 100 backstroke in :49.95.

North Central junior Brian Hartley also was a double winner having won the 200 freestyle in 1:39.54 and defending his state title in the 500 freestyle turning in a time of 4:28.99. Hartley won last year’s 500 in 4:28.91.

Despite falling short in the 100 freestyle, Stoller managed to defend his title in the other sprint event – the 50 freestyle – in :20.52. The senior’s winning time of :20.46 last year stands as the record.

After placing third in the 100 breaststroke last year, senior Matt Jeffries of Perry Meridian returned to win the event this time around in :57.22 and became his school’s first boys swimming state champion. Fort Wayne Concordia, which had placed second in last year’s 200 medley relay, edged Carmel at the wall by .07 hundredths of a second in 1:35.11 and won the first title in that school’s history.

Senior Matt McDonald of Hamilton Southeastern High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the winner of the Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Award in boys swimming and diving.

McDonald won three consecutive state championships in the 100 butterfly and added a title in the 100 backstroke at this year’s meet. He also swam the backstroke leg on his school’s championship 200 medley relay team in the 2000 state meet. He was also a semifinalist in the 100 butterfly at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.

Academically, McDonald rates fourth in his class of 441 students with a perfect 12.0 GPA (12.0 scale). He has been accepted to Stanford University, where he plans to study medicine and/or engineering.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s longtime corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Hamilton Southeastern High School in the name of McDonald.

200 Medley Relay – Fort Wayne Concordia (Sean Gibson, Andrew Glassley, Michael Trent, Joel Usina), 1:35.11.

200 Freestyle – Brian Hartley, North Central (Indpls.), 1:39.54.

200 Individual Medley – Ryan Wochomurka, Columbus North, 1:51.37.

50 Freestyle – Michael Stoller, Bremen, :20.52.

One Meter Diving – Phillip Jones, Hamilton Southeastern, 623.90 points (*State meet record).

100 Butterfly – Matt McDonald, Hamilton Southeastern, :48.18.

100 Freestyle – Ryan Wochomurka, Columbus North, :44.36 (*State meet record).

500 Freestyle – Brian Hartley, North Central (Indpls.), 4:28.99.

200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Jon Westphal, Mike Unger, Jason Cousins, Grant Wieczorek), 1:25.16.

100 Backstroke – Matt McDonald, Hamilton Southeastern, :49.95.

100 Breaststroke – Matt Jeffries, Perry Meridian, :57.22.

400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Grant Wieczorek, Christian Phipps, Matt Belcher, Pete Pessagno), 3:08.96.