Posted: Feb 23, 2015
Sectional Champions!
The Bulldog Boys Swimming & Diving Team won 11 of 12 events on their way to a dominating performance at a weather delayed IHSAA Sectional at Ben Davis on Monday night, scoring a total of 561 points, well ahead of runner-up Decatur Central (379). The Dogs will advance 8 individuals in 11 events to the IHSAA State Finals this weekend and could pick up some additional swims that are "on the bubble" to qualify for State.
"I can't be happier for these boys," Head Coach Josh Saylor said. "It's been a trying couple of weeks with some mechanical issues at our pool and then the meet getting pushed back to tonight, but through it all these guys have been mentally and physically tough. They stepped up tonight and I am confident that we have more in the tank for State."
Junior Vince Partlow and freshman Jack Franzman each had two individual Sectional championships and were part of a pair of winning relays. Partlow won the 200 & 500 Freestyle and Franzman won the 50 & 100 Freestyle. Both boys teamed with seniors Kyle Baney and Cameron Howard to win the 200 & 400 Freestyle Relays. Baney held off an inspired effort by senior Diego La Torre to claim the individual title in the 100 Butterfly, although La Torre would later win the 100 Backstroke to qualify for the State meet. La Torre teamed with seniors Joe Ancel and Adam Moll and sophomore Frank Schoemer to win the 200 Medley Relay. Ancel qualified for State by winning the 100 Breaststroke, while Schoemer punched his ticket to State with a win in the 200 IM.
Baney (50 Freestyle), Howard (100 & 200 Freestyle) and Schoemer (100 Breaststroke) all finished second to a teammate and posted times that are in the window to be considered for State meet participation. The IHSAA will release a final psyche sheet for State later today.
"Several of our guys were not shaved down or suited up for the meet today, which was a calculated risk on our part," Saylor said. "The risk being that those swims weren't fast enough to get picked up for the State meet. Hopefully, we'll get a couple of those swims through, but this was part of the plan, as this team has had its sights set on the State meet from day one."
Seniors Jimmy Breedlove and Chad Hale capped their Bulldog careers in fine fashion. Breedlove finished fourth in the 100 Backstroke and seventh in the 50 Freestyle, while Hale was the runner-up in the 500 Freestyle and third in the 200 Freestyle. Individually, Moll finished second in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 Butterfly. Ancel was third in the 100 Freestyle.
The future of the Bulldog team is bright with some strong contributions from younger swimmers. Sophomore Andrew Fulwider finished sixth in the 100 Breaststroke. Freshman Braden Jackson was third in the 500 Freestyle and fourth in the 200 IM, and freshman Jack Lukens was seventh in the 100 Backstroke.
A young group of Bulldog divers also made an impressive showing Monday night, all three of them participating in their first year of competitive diving. Sophomore Justin Garnett just missed a trip to Regionals with his fifth place finish. Freshman Andrew Lehn made the podium in eighth place and fellow freshman Grant Kent finished 10th.
The Bulldogs will return to action this Friday, February 27, at the IHSAA State Finals, beginning at 6pm at the IUPUI Natatorium.
