Before a record crowd of 2,518, Carmel extended its record run of state championships to 15 and its overall count to 16 titles in the 27^th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving Championship. The Greyhounds prevailed by 78-point margin over North Central of Indianapolis.

The same teams had finished 1-2 a week earlier in the Carmel Sectional. Carmel totaled 313 in the state meet, followed by North Central (235), Columbus North (199), Chesterton (146.5) and Hamilton Southeastern (121).

Carmel’s only title came from senior Tenley Bick in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.72.

First-year Carmel coach Ken Stopkotte, who came to the perennial state power from the Cincinnati Marlins last summer, celebrated his first Indiana state title. He’s the third coach to direct Carmel to an IHSAA girls swimming and diving state title, joining Ray Lawrence (six titles) and Tony Young (nine titles).

Three state finals records were set during the meet, including two in the final round. Those were secured by sophomore Katherine Robinson of South Dearborn in the 100 butterfly and senior Lacey Boutwell of Noblesville in the 100 freestyle. Robinson’s 55.23 broke the standard of 55.40 set by Michala Kwasny of Fort Wayne Snider in 1997-98. Boutwell’s 49.77 topped the 50.02 by Lindsay Benko of Elkhart Central in the 1993-94 state finals. Benko went on to swim at the University of Southern California and was on a gold medal-winning relay team for the U.S. at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Boutwell’s record in the 100 freestyle gave her two IHSAA state titles as she closed her career. She set the IHSAA standard of 22.90 in the 50 freestyle as a freshman in 1997-98.

The third meet record was set in the preliminaries Chesterton senior Jenni Anderson in the 100 backstroke. Anderson went 55.24 in the preliminaries and followed with a 55.67 for her third straight state championship. Anderson held off a strong challenge from Katherine Robinson in the 50 freestyle for her third consecutive title in that event.

Sara Gonso of North Central, appearing in her fourth state finals, broke through for her first diving state title. The senior enjoyed a superlative day with a 51-point margin of victory and flirted with the meet’s 18-year-old points record by totaling 466.10 points in her 11-dive program. The state finals record is 473.30 by Dana Wiegand of Franklin in 1982-83. Gonso was the state runner-up as a freshman and a junior, and finished third as a sophomore.

Sophomore Anessa Beard of Franklin, who was reinstated into the tournament series following a disqualification in the Center Grove Sectional, finished 27^th in the field of 33 divers. Beard was eliminated from the competition following the preliminary round of five dives.

North Central scored a big upset early in the meet when sophomore Susan Hentschel overcame a significant advantage to top-seeded Lacey Boutwell with a strong finish in the final 50 yards of the 200 freestyle. Hentschel finished in 1:49.73 for her first individual title. She also was the anchor in the Panthers’ 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay championship units.

Sophomore Leah Retrum of Columbus North celebrated twice by repeating in the 500 freestyle (4:49.96) and winning her first 200 individual medley (2:02.54) crown.

Columbus North opened the meet by ended Carmel’s 14-year reign in the 200 medley relay with a 1:48.16 clocking. Carmel touched in second at 1:48.77.

In addition to the record attendance for the final session, the two-day crowd of 4,470 also was a state meet record.

200 Medley Relay – Columbus North (Leah Retrum, Erin Sheehy, Anna Stark, Ashley VanOsdol), 1:48.16.

200 Freestyle – Susan Hentschel, North Central (Indianapolis), 1:49.73.

200 Individual Medley – Leah Retrum, Columbus North, 2:02.54.

50 Freestyle -- Jennie Anderson, Chesterton, 23.14.

One Meter Diving – Sara Gonso, North Central (Indianapolis), 466.10.

100 Butterfly – Katherine Robinson, South Dearborn, 55.23.

100 Freestyle – Lacey Boutwell, Noblesville, 49.77.

500 Freestyle -- Leah Retrum, Columbus North, 4:49.86.

200 Freestyle Relay -- North Central (Elizabeth Christy, Claire Wood, Lynn Essenburg, Susan Hentschel).

100 Backstroke -- Jenni Anderson, Chesterton, 55.67.

100 Breaststroke – Tenley Bick, Carmel, 1:05.72.

400 Freestyle Relay – North Central (Elizabeth Curry, Lynn Essenburg, Claire Wood, Susan Hentschel), 3:30. 59.

Jenni Anderson of Chesterton High School was named the 2001 recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Girls Swimming and Diving by the IHSAA Executive Committee.

A four-year competitor in the IHSAA Swimming and Diving State Finals, the senior won six individual state titles during her career.

Anderson ranks 24th in her senior class of 437 students and is involved in several leadership roles at the school. She plans to attend Auburn University and major in child psychology while continuing her swimming career.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Chesterton High School in Anderson’s name.