February 25, 2012

Carmel Edges Bloomington South for Boys Swimming & Diving Championship
In the closest 1-2 finish since 1989, Carmel won its third consecutive team title and edged Bloomington South for the second straight year by a 246.5-245 margin at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

It was the Greyhounds’ 14th overall state championship in the sport and third under coach Chris Plumb who also guided the school’s girls team to another title two weeks ago.

The team race went down to the final event of the afternoon, the 400 freestyle relay with Carmel owning a 11.5 point lead over Bloomington South. The Greyhounds needed every point they could muster as the Panthers grabbed 40 points with its first place finish while Carmel earned 30 points for fourth place. Had they ended fifth, they would have only earned 28 and Bloomington South would have won its first championship since 1972.

Carmel’s depth and Zechariah Banks’ victory in the 100 breaststroke (56.00), the second to last event, proved critical as Bloomington South earned the majority of their points by sweeping all three relays.

Rounding out the top five teams, Northridge ended third with 217 points, Chesterton was fourth with 175.5 and North Central of Indianapolis was fifth with 151. Each had an individual winner as Austin Flager of Northridge won the 100 backstroke (49.84), Chesterton’s Blake Pieroni won the 100 freestyle (44.85) and North Central’s James Costin won the 500 freestyle (4:33.09). Westfield’s Nathan Hopkins, the only returning individual champion from last year, finished third in the event in 4:35.61.

Trevor Carroll of South Bend St. Joseph’s won the first individual event of the day taking the 200 freestyle in 1:37.30 to become the first St. Joe boys swimmer to win a state championship.

LaPorte’s Joshua Arndt racked up 543.80 points to win the one meter diving competition and became the first Slicer state champ since 1973.

Homestead’s Jacob Cook won the 200 individual medley in 1:51.06 and Highland’s Adam Johnston won the 50 freestyle in 20.79.

The 75th Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis
February 24-25, 2012

Top 10 Teams

State Champions
200 Medley Relay: Bloomington South (Nick Wonder 10, Scott Haeberle 12, Logan Jastremski 12, Brendan Michaelsen 12) 1:32.08.
200 Freestyle: Trevor Carroll, 11, South Bend St. Joseph’s, 1:37.30.
200 Individual Medley: Jacob Cook, 12, Homestead, 1:51.06.
50 Freestyle: Adam Johnston, 12, Highland, 20.79.
One Meter Diving: Joshua Arndt, 11, LaPorte, 543.80 points.
100 Butterfly: Max Irwin, 11, Bloomington North, 48.72.
100 Freestyle: Blake Pieroni, 10, Chesterton, 44.85.
500 Freestyle: James Costin, 12, North Central (Indianapolis), 4:33.09.
200 Freestyle Relay: Bloomington South (Jacob Kelzer 12, Logan Jastremski 12, Jesse Smith 12, Brendan Michaelsen 12), 1:24.44.
100 Backstroke: Austin Flager, 11, Northridge, 49.84.
100 Breaststroke: Zechariah Banks, 12, Carmel, 56.00.
400 Freestyle Relay: Bloomington South (Nick Wonder 10, Jacob Kelzer 12, Brendan Michaelsen 12, Scott Haeberle 12), 3:04.90.

Zionsville’s Peter Lyon Wins Keller Mental Attitude Award
Zionsville High School’s Peter Lyon was recognized following the state championship meet by the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s winner of the Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Award.

Lyon ranks fourth in his senior class of 442 students with a 4.7 GPA.

A four-time state qualifier, Lyon finished second in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 100 backstroke in today’s meet. He will attend Ohio State University on a swimming scholarship and study Chemical Engineering.

He is the son of Dan and Mary Lyon of Zionsville.

The award is presented annually to a senior, nominated by her principal and coach, who demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented Zionsville High School with a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Lyon.

VSN Means Action Photography
Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.