Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

_____________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA INFORMATION February 8, 2005

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING TAKES CENTER STAGE THIS WEEKEND

Five defending state champions return with hopes for more success while the Carmel girls look to continue their amazing run of consecutive state championships when the 31^st Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals convene this Friday and Saturday (Feb. 11-12) at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Aubree Biegel, a Lake Central senior, returns to defend her title in the 200 freestyle in what could shape up as one of the best events of the weekend. Biegel, the second seed, edged North Central senior Christine Shehorn, the top seed, in last year’s final by .42 of a second. Biegel also anchored the Indians’ winning 200 freestyle relay last year and will compete again in that event as her team enters with the third best time. Shehorn also is the top seed in the 500 freestyle (4:56.66) as the defending state champion. Shehorn topped last year’s field in 4:54.90.

Also back is Christy Grcevich, a Chesterton sophomore, who won the 100 butterfly a year ago becoming the first frosh to win the event since 1991. She enters as the 11^th seed this time around as the top six from 2004 all return.

Carmel senior Taylor Baughman, with five state titles to her credit including four last year, hopes to, again, prove to be Indiana’s top sprinter. Baughman will start as the third seed in the 50 freestyle and second in the 100 free, both as the returning champ. She also swam on two state title-winning relay teams last year anchoring the 200 medley relay and taking the third leg on the 400 freestyle relay.

The only other former state champion in the field of individual events is Evansville Harrison senior Leslie Van Winkle. Van Winkle won the 100 breaststroke as a freshman in 2002 but hasn’t been entered in the event since 2003. She is, however, the top seed in 200 individual medley checking in at 2:04.92 and is in the third spot in the 100 freestyle.

Brittany Feldman, a junior at Indianapolis Broad Ripple and the defending state champ in the diving competition, will compete in tonight’s regional at Hamilton Southeastern.

As a team, Carmel will be after its IHSAA sports record 19^th consecutive state championship after claiming its 21^st straight sectional title on Saturday. Top-ranked in the final coaches association poll, the Greyhounds edged neighborhood rival North Central of Indianapolis by 15 points. North Central has finished as the state runner-up to Carmel in each of the last five years. Carmel topped the state by qualifying 18 individual swims and three relay teams with North Central sending 16 individuals and three relays.

Other top seeds this weekend include Jeffersonville sophomore Ariel Martin. Martin topped all sectional performers in the 50 freestyle (23.76) and in the 100 backstroke (57.30). Senior Erika Paul of Hamilton Southeastern gained the top position in the 100 butterfly (56.37), sophomore Kayla Sergesketter of Jasper in the 100 freestyle (51.34) and Center Grove freshman Michelle McKeehan earned the favored fourth lane of the last heat in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.46).

In last Saturday’s sectional action, Homestead topped the state in points scored at its own site with 446. Center Grove tallied 408 in winning the Center Grove Sectional and Castle put up 403 at the Mt. Vernon Sectional. Also, in winning its own sectional, Columbus North’s team extended the state’s longest sectional title streak to 22 years.

31st Annual Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals

Feb. 11, 6 p.m. (swimming preliminaries)

Feb. 12, 9 a.m. (diving preliminaries) and 1 p.m. (consolations and finals)

Indiana University Natatorium, Indianapolis

State Finals Heat Sheets | Diving Regionals

IU Natatorium | Driving Directions | Parking | Competition Pool | Indianapolis Accomodations

Admission: $8 for one session; $12 for all sessions. Available at the Natatorium.

Advancement: During Friday preliminaries, the top eight in each swimming event will advance to Saturday’s championship heat, while the ninth through 16th positions will compete in Saturday’s consolation heat. All diving will take place on Saturday with the top 21 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.

Credentials: The 2004-05 IHSAA State Finals Media Pass issued previously will be accepted for admittance. Fax requests on company letterhead to Jason Wille at 317-575-4244. No e-mail requests will be accepted. Approved requests will be held at the media will call table at the concourse level of the I.U. Natatorium.

Media Work Area: Four phone lines will be available in the media working area of the west bleachers for use by writers and photographers. Results from each event will be posted to the IHSAA website (www.ihsaa.org) under girls swimming and diving as the meet progresses both days.

Media Hosts: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille and Communications Director Joe Gentry will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state meet.

Off Limits: For safety and liability reasons, members of the media are not permitted on the moveable bulkheads that separate the pools or on any of the diving platforms. Also, due to congestion in the immediate area of the starting blocks with timers and judges, we ask that writers and photographers steer clear of that area as well. Editors and sports directors -- please share this information with those who are covering the event and might not necessarily have access to this release. Thank you for your cooperation.

Schedule of Events

Times are approximate

Friday

5:30 p.m. -- Opening Ceremonies

6:00 p.m. -- 200 Yd. Medley Relay

6:16 p.m. -- 200 Yd. Freestyle

6:32 p.m. -- 200 Yd. Individual Medley

6:50 p.m. -- 50 Yd. Freestyle

15 MINUTE BREAK

7:14 p.m. -- 100 Yd. Butterfly

7:26 p.m. -- 100 Yd. Freestyle

7:38 p.m. -- 500 Yd. Freestyle

8:08 p.m. -- 200 Yd. Freestyle Relay

8:23 p.m. -- 100 Yd. Backstroke

8:35 p.m. -- 100 Yd. Breaststroke

8:48 p.m. -- 400 Yd. Freestyle Relay

Saturday

9:00 a.m. -- Diving Preliminaries (5 dives) & Semi-Finals (3 dives)

12:45 p.m. -- Opening Ceremonies

1:05 p.m. -- Finals and Consolation Finals

Top Seeds

200 Medley Relay -- Hamilton Southeastern, 1:46.59.

200 Freestyle -- Christine Shehorn, 12, North Central (Indpls.) 1:52.17.

200 Individual Medley -- Leslie Van Winkle, 12, Evansville Harrison, 2:04.92.

50 Freestyle -- Ariel Martin, 10, Jeffersonville, 23.76.

100 Butterfly -- Erika Paul, 12, Hamilton Southeastern, 56.37.

100 Freestyle -- Kayla Sergesketter, 10, Jasper, 51.34.

500 Freestyle -- Christine Shehorn, 12, North Central (Indpls.), 4:56.66.

200 Freestyle Relay -- Carmel, 1:37.30.

100 Backstroke -- Ariel Martin, 10, Jeffersonville, 57.30.

100 Breaststroke -- Michelle McKeehan, 9, Center Grove, 1:05.46.

400 Freestyle Relay -- Carmel, 3:32.16.

WRESTLING

WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS REACH SEMI-STATE STOP

Both the team and individual wrestling tournaments have reached the semi-state level of their respective tournaments.

The 10^th Annual Team Tournament will be contested Wednesday night at eight sites around the state as teams battle in dual format. The winning team at each site will advance to the state finals on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Center Grove High School in Greenwood. Among those teams competing in the semi-states, Avon, Elkhart Memorial, Floyd Central, Kokomo, McCutcheon, Merrillville, and Warren Central will each be looking for their first trip to the team finals.

Defending state champion and home-standing Lawrence North will face Metropolitan Conference rival Carmel in one of the eight matches as the Wildcats look to make their third consecutive trip to the finals. Lawrence North won its third wrestling state championship last year with a dominating 47-12 performance over Perry Meridian ending Evansville Mater Dei’s run of nine straight titles.

Mater Dei will face Floyd Central at the Southridge Semi-State with the idea of making its state-best 10^th consecutive trip. Mater Dei fell to Portage in last year’s quarterfinal round.

The 67^th Annual Individual State Tournament heads to semi-state competition this Saturday, Feb. 12 at four sites. With 12 wrestlers in each weight class and the four regional champions getting a bye, the top four at the end of the day will advance to the state finals on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Five of last year’s state champions, all seniors, are still alive heading into this weekend including three-time winner Angel Escobedo of Griffith. The Panther will compete in the 135 pound class at Merrillville after winning at 130 last year, 125 as a sophomore and 112 as a freshman. He’ll be joined at that venue by Chris Kasten of Winamac who won the 215 pound class last year and is wrestling at 275 this time. Seeing action at New Castle are Jon Lloyd of Warren Central and Reece Humphrey of Lawrence North. Lloyd topped the 103 class last season and is competing at 119 this year. Humphrey, a two-time title winner, is competing at 130 after winning crowns at 125 last year and at 112 as a sophomore. Evansville Mater Dei senior Matt Coughlin is the only one of the five competing at the same weight – 152 – as last year. He’ll wrestle at Roberts Stadium in Evansville.

Team Semi-States

Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Time: 7 p.m.

Admission: $5.00

1. Valparaiso: Merrillville vs. Portage.

2. Rochester: Mishawaka vs. McCutcheon.

3. Columbia City: Elkhart Memorial vs. Columbia City.

4. Bellmont: Kokomo vs. Bellmont.

5. Lawrence North: Carmel vs. Lawrence North.

6. New Castle: Warren Central vs. New Castle.

7. Avon: Avon vs. Bloomington South.

8. Southridge: Floyd Central vs. Evansville Mater Dei.

Team State Finals

Date: Saturday, February 26, 2005

Time: 10 a.m.

Admission: $8.00

Where: Center Grove High School, 2717 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood, IN | Map | Directions

Quarterfinals

10:00 a.m.

Match 1

Winner at Valparaiso vs. Winner at Lawrence North.

Match 2

Winner at Rochester Community vs. Winner at Southridge.

Match 3

Winner at Bellmont vs. Winner at Columbia City.

Match 4

Winner at Avon vs. Winner at New Castle.

Semifinals

30 minutes following the conclusion of the quarterfinals, at approximately 12 p.m.

Match 5

Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.

Match 6

Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.

State Championship

30 minutes following the conclusion of the semifinals, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Match 7

Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6.

Individual Semi-States

Date: Saturday, February 12, 2005

Time: Recommended starting time of 9 a.m.

Admission: Final session only $6.00; All sessions $8.00

Advancement: The top four participants in each weight class will advance to the state finals.

1. Merrillville: Calumet, LaPorte, Logansport, Rochester.

2. New Haven (at Allen County Coliseum): Carroll (Fort Wayne), Goshen, Jay County, Peru.

3. New Castle: North Montgomery, Pendleton Heights, Perry Meridian, Richmond.

4. Evansville Reitz (at Roberts Stadium): Bloomington South, Castle, Jeffersonville, Mooresville.

Individual State Finals

Dates & Times: Friday, February 18 at 6 p.m. | Saturday, February 19 Quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m.; Consolations at 5 p.m.; Finals at 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $8.00 per session; $18 all sessions. All seats general admission.

Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

Conseco Fieldhouse | Seating Chart | Driving Directions | Parking | Indianapolis Accomodations

GIRLS BASKETBALL

TWO TEAMS ENTER SECTIONALS WITH PERFECT RECORDS

Only two teams of the 383 entered in the 30^th Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament begin play this week with undefeated records. And both happen to reside in Class 2A.

South Putnam and Southridge, both at 20-0, are assigned to seven team sectionals and are scheduled to play Wednesday night. South Putnam will begin its tournament trail at Cascade where they’ll take on the home team in the second of two games that evening. Southridge, the 1998 2A state champ, will face Perry Central in the first of two games at the Forest Park Sectional. If both navigate cleanly, they’ll face each other in the first game of the Forest Park Regional on Feb. 19.

To view the pairings in HTML format, click here or, for a bracket view in PDF, choose a class: 4A | 3A | 2A | A .

Latest State Rankings

Compiled by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. Feb. 7 Poll (End of Regular Season).

State Scoring & Rebounding Leaders

As reported to the IHSAA through games of Feb. 5, 2005

A complete list of the state’s top scorers and rebounders is available at: State's Leaders

Top 10 Scoring

Player	School	Class	Grade	Games	Total	Avg.	High
Jodi Howell	Alexandria-Monroe	2A	12	21	593	28.2	52
Megan King	FW Canterbury	A	10	19	488	25.7	40
Angela Willis	Richmond	4A	12	20	471	23.6	37
Stefanie Gerardot	Bishop Luers	3A	12	20	468	23.4	38
Candace Jones	Indianapolis Arsenal Technical	4A	12	21	487	23.2	39
Ashley Barlow	Pike	4A	11	19	434	22.8	36
Janette Burgin	Clinton Prairie	A	12	20	448	22.4	37
Brittany Schoen	South Central (Elizabeth)	A	9	19	411	21.6	31
Ashley Fraley	Loogootee	A	12	20	430	21.5	32
Jamie Gallmeyer	Westview	2A	12	20	421	21.0	30

Top 10 Rebounding

Player	School	Class	Grade	Games	Total	Avg.	High
Maria Roller	Medora	A	11	20	270	13.5	27
Kelsie Manuel	Union (Dugger )	A	11	20	268	13.4	20
Anna Kammrath