- 1
- 2
- next
- | single page
The ghosts of United States' swimming greats hang in the rafters of the IUPUI Natatorium, a long line of photo-banners representing some of the best swimmers and divers to grace the famous competition pool in Indianapolis. Often they look down at aspiring young athletes, ones who are definitely talented in their own right for their age groups or athletic levels, but swimmers who can only hope to achieve half the success and athletic lore of the greats that hang above them.
Greg Louganis. Pablo Morales. Dara Torres. Summer Sanders. Just some of the names that dangle from the ceiling, representing one of the most renowned sports at the Olympic games. And as the best of the best hung from the rafters Saturday afternoon, they watched as a school from Central Indiana etched their name into United States high school history, perhaps earning a spot among with them one day.
Twenty-six consecutive years the Carmel Greyhounds have entered the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State championships. Twenty-six years they have left with blue ribbons around their neck, a trophy in the shape of the state of Indiana, and have taken the victory leap as a team in the diving well, setting a national record for most consecutive State championships for any female team in United States high school history.
"That means a lot of history, a lot of great swimming and coaching that has come before me," said Carmel Head coach Chris Plumb as to what that number meant to him. "I'm just honored to be here."
Different faces, same school colors, same exact results that left the competition fighting for second-place as the Greyhounds practically lapped the competition once again. As the largest and most rambunctious student section once again made their chants loud and clear throughout the Natatorium, Carmel almost doubled second-place Zionsville's team total of 168 points, finishing with 329 points and four individual first-places on the podium.
"It's just a great legacy to be a part of," said Carmel Senior Margaret Ramsey. "We love the tradition, we just love to keep it going."
Ramsey, along with fellow senior Alexis Bullard, are some of the exemplary reasons why this Carmel squad has achieved so much success over the years. The two had finished with All-State podium places in past State competitions; third, fourth, and fifth place, spots that don't quite get the recognition of individual blue ribbon champion, but are the reason the Greyhounds distance themselves from the rest of the teams in the state of Indiana.
On Saturday, in their last high school competitions, they finally achieved their individual shining moment. Ramsey set a blistering pace in the 500 Freestyle, taking first place from the opening laps and touching in first with a time of 4:51.43. Two races later, Bullard just out touched Brittany Robinson of Wawasee (54.70) and fellow teammate in Sophomore Hanna House (54.92) in the 100 Backstroke.
"I was just trying to focus on my turns and I saw Brittany next to me," said Bullard. "I was like 'I got to beat her, I got to beat her' and then that last 25 I just grunted and went for it."
Bullard and Ramsey would also join House and Junior Lacey Locke for a first-place finish in the 400 Freestyle relay (3:25.87), and the combination of Locke, House, Lucy Kramer, and Ariana Bullard opened up the competition with a first place in the 200 Medley Relay (1:43.32). The two relays helped Locke, who can often be found dancing before races or wearing the most stylish footwear at the meet, raise her total of individual first-places to nine over her IHSAA career.
"Us Carmel girls, our plan is to have fun," said Locke. "When we have fun, we swim fast. That is just our main goal. It is awesome just to be part of a great team, and I love all the girls I swim with, and the coaches do a fabulous job as well."
Of course it's easy to have fun when you're in the process distancing yourself from the competition and making the pool your own party-house as you celebrate another State championship.
"It never gets old," said Plumb, who was soaking wet from the team's victory leap from the podiums into the pool. "Each one of them is special, especially for these seniors. To have them go out like this is just really special."
Where Carmel may have owned the team competition, many other athletes made an impact at the State competition as well. Fishers Senior Shelby Bartlett, who finished tenth place in the 20111 meet, leaped into the air for a reverse one-and-a-half with a one-and-a-half twist, and landed into the water as a State champion with a score of 458.55.
"As I was on the board I was so nervous," said Bartlett.
"I just had to get it in the water. I just focused, and went really slow because if I didn't do that, it wasn't going to go well. And the hurdle didn't go the best, but I just reached really high and tall and then just wrapped and squeezed."
Center Grove Senior Emma Schoettmer found a new warm-up routine on Saturday afternoon, and it might be one she wants to adopt for her future at Arizona University. The 2010 champion in the 100 Breastroke was feeling under the weather during the first session of the competition on Saturday, so she took a nap during the diving competition. The result? A personal best of 1:00.50 as she found herself in a familiar spot, winning the 100 Breaststroke once again.
"This past summer when I swam at the Junior National meet I set the new record," said Schoettmer. "And I just felt the exact same as I did there where I pushed off the wall, came up, and just got into this zone where I didn't focus on anything else but myself in the water. Somehow, I just managed to pull through."
And where Carmel may have stood in the spotlight for the team competition, the Zionsville Eagles fully announced themselves to the world as a State powerhouse in swimming on Saturday with their second-place finish.
Greg Louganis. Pablo Morales. Dara Torres. Summer Sanders. Just some of the names that dangle from the ceiling, representing one of the most renowned sports at the Olympic games. And as the best of the best hung from the rafters Saturday afternoon, they watched as a school from Central Indiana etched their name into United States high school history, perhaps earning a spot among with them one day.
Twenty-six consecutive years the Carmel Greyhounds have entered the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State championships. Twenty-six years they have left with blue ribbons around their neck, a trophy in the shape of the state of Indiana, and have taken the victory leap as a team in the diving well, setting a national record for most consecutive State championships for any female team in United States high school history.
"That means a lot of history, a lot of great swimming and coaching that has come before me," said Carmel Head coach Chris Plumb as to what that number meant to him. "I'm just honored to be here."
Different faces, same school colors, same exact results that left the competition fighting for second-place as the Greyhounds practically lapped the competition once again. As the largest and most rambunctious student section once again made their chants loud and clear throughout the Natatorium, Carmel almost doubled second-place Zionsville's team total of 168 points, finishing with 329 points and four individual first-places on the podium.
"It's just a great legacy to be a part of," said Carmel Senior Margaret Ramsey. "We love the tradition, we just love to keep it going."
Ramsey, along with fellow senior Alexis Bullard, are some of the exemplary reasons why this Carmel squad has achieved so much success over the years. The two had finished with All-State podium places in past State competitions; third, fourth, and fifth place, spots that don't quite get the recognition of individual blue ribbon champion, but are the reason the Greyhounds distance themselves from the rest of the teams in the state of Indiana.
On Saturday, in their last high school competitions, they finally achieved their individual shining moment. Ramsey set a blistering pace in the 500 Freestyle, taking first place from the opening laps and touching in first with a time of 4:51.43. Two races later, Bullard just out touched Brittany Robinson of Wawasee (54.70) and fellow teammate in Sophomore Hanna House (54.92) in the 100 Backstroke.
"I was just trying to focus on my turns and I saw Brittany next to me," said Bullard. "I was like 'I got to beat her, I got to beat her' and then that last 25 I just grunted and went for it."
Bullard and Ramsey would also join House and Junior Lacey Locke for a first-place finish in the 400 Freestyle relay (3:25.87), and the combination of Locke, House, Lucy Kramer, and Ariana Bullard opened up the competition with a first place in the 200 Medley Relay (1:43.32). The two relays helped Locke, who can often be found dancing before races or wearing the most stylish footwear at the meet, raise her total of individual first-places to nine over her IHSAA career.
"Us Carmel girls, our plan is to have fun," said Locke. "When we have fun, we swim fast. That is just our main goal. It is awesome just to be part of a great team, and I love all the girls I swim with, and the coaches do a fabulous job as well."
Of course it's easy to have fun when you're in the process distancing yourself from the competition and making the pool your own party-house as you celebrate another State championship.
"It never gets old," said Plumb, who was soaking wet from the team's victory leap from the podiums into the pool. "Each one of them is special, especially for these seniors. To have them go out like this is just really special."
Where Carmel may have owned the team competition, many other athletes made an impact at the State competition as well. Fishers Senior Shelby Bartlett, who finished tenth place in the 20111 meet, leaped into the air for a reverse one-and-a-half with a one-and-a-half twist, and landed into the water as a State champion with a score of 458.55.
"As I was on the board I was so nervous," said Bartlett.
"I just had to get it in the water. I just focused, and went really slow because if I didn't do that, it wasn't going to go well. And the hurdle didn't go the best, but I just reached really high and tall and then just wrapped and squeezed."
Center Grove Senior Emma Schoettmer found a new warm-up routine on Saturday afternoon, and it might be one she wants to adopt for her future at Arizona University. The 2010 champion in the 100 Breastroke was feeling under the weather during the first session of the competition on Saturday, so she took a nap during the diving competition. The result? A personal best of 1:00.50 as she found herself in a familiar spot, winning the 100 Breaststroke once again.
"This past summer when I swam at the Junior National meet I set the new record," said Schoettmer. "And I just felt the exact same as I did there where I pushed off the wall, came up, and just got into this zone where I didn't focus on anything else but myself in the water. Somehow, I just managed to pull through."
And where Carmel may have stood in the spotlight for the team competition, the Zionsville Eagles fully announced themselves to the world as a State powerhouse in swimming on Saturday with their second-place finish.
