Posted: Feb 07, 2015
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
The Bulldog Girls Swimming & Diving Team used superior depth and a number of breakthrough performances to win their second consecutive IHSAA Sectional championship on Saturday at Decatur Central. The Dogs crowned 7 Sectional champions who will all advance to the IHSAA State Finals and qualified one diver for the IHSAA Diving Regional on their way to a total of 546 points, finishing well ahead of runner-up Brebeuf (289). Head Coach Josh Saylor was named Sectional Coach of the Year.
"This was a true team effort and a moment that these girls have worked all season for," Saylor said. "The season never goes 100% according to plan but the team never wavered from their commitment to each other. We could have performed half as well as we actually did and I would still be proud of these girls for their belief in their team."
Senior Kierra Watson led the way for the Dogs, finishing first in all of her events on Saturday. Individually, Watson won the 200 IM and 100 Backstroke. She opened the meet by teaming with juniors Madison Kehr and Piper Lovett and freshman Bailey LaPaugh to win the 200 Medley Relay, and closed the meet on the victorious 400 Freestyle Relay with Kehr, Lovett and sophomore AJ Moll.
LaPaugh and Moll will join Watson in individual events at State, with LaPaugh touching first in the 100 Butterfly and Moll winning the 500 Freestyle for the second year in a row. LaPaugh and Moll will have a third event on their State meet agenda as well, teaming with senior Clarice Cross and freshman Annabelle Ketchem to win a thrilling duel with Pike in the 200 Freestyle Relay.
Sophomore Danielle LeClerc led an impressive showing by the Bulldog divers, finishing second overall and qualifying for diving Regionals for the second year in a row. Freshman Kayla Cromer finished fifth, just missing the final qualifying spot for Regionals, and sophomore Angelica Brinker finished ninth.
Senior Brianna LaPaugh and sophomore Kaylee Propst finished second and third behind Watson in the 200 IM, one of three 1-2-3 sweeps on the day. Moll, Bailey LaPaugh and senior Ashly Kraatz took the top three spots in the 500 Freestyle and Watson, Lovett and Propst swept the 100 Backstroke.
Additional outstanding finishes were turned in by freshman Ava Davidson (fifth, 100 Breaststroke), sophomore Karsyn Hopper (fifth, 100 & 200 Freestyle), freshman Anna Santiago (sixth, 100 Breaststroke), senior Alyssa Smock (eighth, 100 Freestyle) and senior Megan Wolf (third, 100 Butterfly).
Danielle LeClerc will be in competition on Tuesday, February 10 at the IHSAA Diving Regional at the Bulldog Aquatic Center beginning at 6pm. The top eight finishers at the Regional will advance to the State finals.
Clarice Cross, Madison Kehr, Annabelle Ketchem, Bailey LaPaugh, Piper Lovett, AJ Moll and Kierra Watson will compete in State prelims on Friday, February 13, beginning at 6pm at the IUPUI Natatorium. The top 16 finishers in each event advance to finals.
