Girls' Swimmers Compete in Sectional Action

The Bulldog Girls Swimming & Diving Team put in a total team effort on Saturday, finishing second to state power and host North Central at the IHSAA Sectional. Bulldog senior captain Madeline Ketchem will advance to the IHSAA State Finals thanks to her Sectional championship in the 100 Butterfly and also had a hand in a new school record in the 200 Medley Relay.

Ketchem, a two-time relay state qualifier previously in her career, will compete in her first individual event at State after a convincing win in the 100 Butterfly (58.99). She also turned in a critical split in the 200 Medley Relay, teaming with junior Grace Fulwider, sophomore Kierra Watson and freshman Madison Kehr for a runner-up finish and new school record (1:54.06).

Fulwider (200 IM, 100 Breaststroke) and Watson (100 Backstroke) turned in individual second place finishes on the day and teamed with Ketchem and junior Chloe Wittig for second in the 400 Freestyle Relay. Ketchem and Wittig finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 500 Freestyle while Watson finished fourth in the 200 IM. Wittig also chipped in a fifth place finish in the 200 Freestyle for her second individual podium finish of the meet.

Additional podium finishes were turned in by senior Kristin Verpe (seventh, 200 Freestyle), juniors Delaney Krug (fifth, 100 Breaststroke) and Tia Scoggan (eighth, 100 Backstroke), sophomore Brianna LaPaugh (eighth, 200 IM) and freshmen Kehr (eighth, 50 Freestyle), Piper Lovett (fifth, 100 Backstroke) and Shelby Smith (seventh, 100 Butterfly).

Kehr, Lovett, Verpe and Wittig finished fourth in the 200 Freestyle Relay while sophomores Ashly Kraatz (11th, 100 Butterfly) and Megan Wolf (11th, 200 Freestyle and 12th, 500 Freestyle) picked up valuable team points with consolation final swims.

Bulldog Head Coach Josh Saylor was named Co-Sectional Coach of the Year.

While Ketchem was the lone Bulldog to officially advance to the IHSAA State Finals on Saturday, additional swims may advance (based on time) pending the reporting of all Sectional results throughout the state. The IHSAA will publish their final entry list on Sunday at www.ihsaa.org.

The IHSAA State Preliminaries begin at 6pm on Friday, February 8 at the IUPUI Natatorium.

This was an outstanding season for the Bulldog girls who made all of their teammates, fans and coaches proud with their team spirit, togetherness and fast swimming! Congratulations girls and thanks to all of our awesome fans for your support throughout the season!