Top-ranked Carmel won its 13^th consecutive title by a 187.5-point margin over Center Grove in the 25^th Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals Feb. 13, 1999 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

The Greyhounds took control early in the meet by winning the opening event, the 200 medley relay, and went on to place at least one swimmer in the top eight of every event except diving. Carmel finished with 375.5 points to Center Grove's 188 points. They were followed by Fort Wayne Snider (179.5), North Central of Indianapolis (129) and West Lafayette (126).

Carmel won two events: the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay, but its depth carried the team to its eighth straight championship under coach Tony Young. Carmel's 13 titles is the longest championship streak in any sport in IHSAA history and ranks as the fifth-longest of all time on a national scale in girls swimming and diving. Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii holds the record with 22 consecutive state championships from 1974 to 1995.

Carmel ranks No. 1 among the 386 IHSAA member schools in overall IHSAA titles with 62. The Greyhounds have won at least one IHSAA championship in 15 consecutive school years.

Center Grove, which finished runner-up to Carmel for the second consecutive year, received victories from senior Sarah Bowman in the 100 freestyle and junior Laura Swander, who set a state meet record in the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.70. The Trojans also took first place in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.96 ending the Greyhounds' state relay title streak at 13 races. Carmel had swept all three relay titles each of the previous four years.

Senior Michala Kwasny of Fort Wayne Snider closed her high school career with two individual championships to bring her career total to seven. Kwasny won her fourth consecutive 200 individual medley championship with a meet record time of 2:00.99. Kwasny set the former record, 2:01.07, in 1997. She is the second swimmer to win the 200 individual medley title four times, joining Sherry Cartwright of Ben Davis (1978-79, 1979-80) and Harrison (1980-81, 1981-82). Kwasny also became just the sixth swimmer in the history of the state meet to win an event all four years.

Kwasny followed with her third consecutive state title in the 100 butterfly in :55.53.

The meet's other double winners were senior Rebecca Wilson of Homestead and sophomore Jenni Anderson of Chesterton. Wilson doubled in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle after finishing as the runner-up in both events in 1998. She captured the 200 freestyle in 1:49.57, then came back to win the 500 freestyle in a meet record time of 4:48.39. Anderson won the 50 freestyle in :23.30 and the 100 backstroke in :55.96.

1. Carmel, 375.5; 2. Center Grove, 188; 3. Fort Wayne Snider, 179.5; 4. North Central (Indpls.), 129; 5. West Lafayette, 126; 6. Chesterton, 124; 7. Valparaiso, 123; 8. Homestead, 94; 9. Portage, 70; 10. Lafayette Jefferson, 66.

200 Medley Relay -- Carmel (Cassie Herr, Katie Simmons, Erica Watts, Katie Kolles), 1:47.05.

200 Freestyle -- Rebecca Wilson, Homestead, 1:49.57.

200 Individual Medley -- Michala Kwasny, Fort Wayne Snider, 2:00.99 (state finals record).

50 Freestyle -- Jenni Anderson, Chesterton, :23.30.

One Meter Diving -- Holly Hodges, Pike, 421.70.

100 Butterfly -- Michala Kwasny, Fort Wayne Snider, :55.53.

100 Freestyle -- Sarah Bowman, Center Grove, :52.45.

500 Freestyle -- Rebecca Wilson, Homestead, 4:48.39 (state finals record).

200 Freestyle Relay -- Center Grove (Sarah Bowman, Amy Todd, Stephanie Nugent, Laura Swander), 1:36.96.

100 Backstroke -- Jenni Anderson, Chesterton, :55.96.

100 Breaststroke -- Laura Swander, Center Grove, 1:02.70 (state finals record).

400 Freestyle Relay -- Carmel (Erica Watts, Gwen Haley, Katie Seall, Katie Simmons), 3:30.97.

Michala Kwasny of Fort Wayne Snider High School was named the 1999 recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Girls Swimming and Diving.

A seven-time state champion, Kwasny won the 100 butterfly for the third consecutive year and the 200 individual medley for the fourth time. She broke her own record in the 200 individual medley with a 2:00.99 clocking.

Academically, she ranks in the top third of her senior class and has been named a Scholastic All-American. Kwasny plans to attend the University of Southern California on a swimming scholarship and will major in biology.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Fort Wayne Snider High School in Kwasny's name.