2017-18 State Finals Recap

February 10, 2018

Yorktown's Emily Weiss sets National Record in 100 Breaststroke at State Finals
Yorktown junior Emily Weiss smoked the 100 breaststroke field and set a national high school record in the process at the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

After setting the state record in Friday's preliminaries in 59.25 (which beat her own state record of 59.37 a year ago), Weiss had more to give on Saturday rocketing to the fastest time ever by a high schooler touching the pad in 58.40. Her time bested the 58.56 set by Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea Senior High School in Minnesota in November 2015. It was Weiss' third consecutive crown in the event.

Weiss' performance highlighted the meet along with Carmel's continued dominance in the pool.

The Greyhounds ran away with the meet with 363 points extending their own national record of consecutive state titles to 32 years. That mark tops the charts in any sport in any gender in the country. It was also the state-best 12th crown for coach Chris Plumb.

Northridge scored 215 points to claim runner-up honors, the school's best-ever finish in the state finals. Hamilton Southeastern was third with 165, Franklin Community was fourth with 163, its first top 10 finish in school history, and Fishers rounded out the top five with 155.

Carmel had four individual state champions to go along with two relay winners.

Junior Kelly Pash swept the 100 (48.59) and 200 (1:45.50) freestyles, a repeat in the former, and anchored both the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

Greyhound senior Trude Rothrock ended her high school career with 10 state championship medals, the ninth girl and sixth from Carmel with as many. She claimed the 200 individual medley in 1:58.28, repeated in the 100 butterfly in 53.12 and also swam the third leg on the 200 medley relay and led off the 400 free relay.

Northridge's runner-up finish was boosted by one meter diving champion Sara Troyer with 507.65 points and the 200 free relay team of Elsa Fretz, Kenzie Weber, Jenna Nethercutt and Lauren Miller. Together they clocked a 1:34.07 edging out Carmel (1:34.28) for the school's first relay state championship.

Senior Julia Wolf won the 50 freestyle in 23.11, the second straight Bloomington South sprinter to win the event following Grace Haskett a year ago.

Munster junior Kay Foley claimed the 500 freestyle in 4:49.87, the school's first state champion since 1983 when Pam Selby won the same event.

And Zionsville celebrated its first 100 backstroke state champion as senior Tessa Wrightson took honors in 54.02.

Jay County's Alexandra Bader named Mental Attitude Award recipient
Senior Alexandra Bader was recognized following the state championship meet by the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s winner of the Mental Attitude Award.

Bader, who holds multiple Jay County High School and conference swim records, also participates in soccer during the fall and was captain of her team last fall. 

Throughout her four years, she earned varsity letters in swimming and soccer each year, and was Rookie of the Year her freshman swim season. Bader has seven sectional wins in her back pocket, and has been named to the Academic All-State team for both soccer and swimming. She was also nominated for Academic All-American in swimming, and received a mental attitude award during her participation in soccer. Bader has qualified for state swimming all four years, in at least two events. Today, she qualified for the championship final in the 100 breaststroke (finished 5th) and the consolations of the 50 freestyle (finished 16th).

Outside of athletics, Bader is a member of the National Honor Society, student council president, class officer vice president and is a member of the German Club. Bader is also part of the Best Buddies program, where she has served as president and vice president. 

Academically, she holds a 4.20 GPA on a 4.0 scale, while taking college prep courses. She is also number one in her class of 256 students at Jay County. 

She is the daughter of Melissa and Christian Bader of Portland, and will attend the Ball State University to study nursing. She will also continue her swimming career as a Ball State Cardinal. 

Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior who was nominated by her principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The Committee presented $1,000 to Jay County High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Alexandra Bader.