GHS swims to county title

Monday, February 2, 2009
Lainey Poor of Greencastle takes a breath during the 200-yard freestyle race at the Putnam County meet Saturday at North Putnam. Poor won the event with a time of 2:21.11

ROACHDALE -- Saturday morning North Putnam hosted the girls County swim meet. Greencastle came out on top with a score of 154 over South Putnam with 100 points and North Putnam scoring 64 points.

"I felt they were up for the meet, enthusiastic. They wanted to perform well. We had some nice results. [For] the senior class, I think, it is special ... to continue on as county champions and maintain that undefeated record in county all four years. So, I think it is a source of pride for the team," stated Greencastle Coach Luke Beasley.

First places were split between Greencastle's Lady Tiger Sharks and South Putnam's Lady Eagles. Out of the 12 events, South Putnam won four: diving, the 200 free relay, the 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke.

In diving, South Putnam's Allysia Lollar took on three Greencastle divers, and defeated them. The 200 free relay was made up of Chelsea Vance, Kate Sherwood, Tabitha Arnold, and Amanda Lund with a time of 1:57.61. Sarah New won the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:16.93. And Jessica York won the 100 Breaststroke in 1:19.82.

"I am really impressed with my girls today. They showed up today and just swam really well. We stayed up with Greencastle so I can't really ask for much more. I think that this is a good indicator of how we are going to perform at Sectional. And I am looking forward to seeing their performance at Sectionals on Thursday and Saturday," stated Coach Emily Coers.

Firsts for Greencastle came by eight girls. The Medley Relay was the first win of the day for Greencastle. The relay was made up of Tess Handy, Melissa Ball, Caitlyn Gannaway, and Kelsey Murtagh. They won the race with a time of 2:09.12.

"Handy, being part of the 200 Medley Relay was a first-time county champion. She worked really hard all year and that is great for her. I am really happy for her," said Coach Beasley.

Ball also won the 200 IM in a time of 1:52.81. Other individual winners include Murtagh in the 50 free and the 100 free, Melanie Bittles in the 100 Butterfly, Erika Collins in the 500 free, and Lainey Poor in the 200 free.

"Lainey Poor winning the 200 free was one of the highlights of the day [for us]. Not only did she swim a great time, best time of her career actually, but also she was a county champion for the first time in her career. That is a big deal," stated Coach Beasley.

The North Putnam girls got a total of one second and six third place finishes. Their second place finish was by Katie Wilcox in the 100 free. Wilcox also had one individual third place in the 50 free, and two third place finishes on relays.

The North Putnam Medley of Briana Smith, Kiana Werner, Katie Wilcox, and Michelle Harper came in third behind South Putnam's Medley as well as Greencastle's Medley. The other third place relay was the 200 free relay of Brianna Smith, Katie Lasiter, Jenna Greeson, and Surber.

Other members of the relays that also had individual third place finishes included Michelle Harper in the 200 IM and the 500 free, as well as Briana Smith in the 100 back.

"Everybody did equal today. I was pleased with the way we swam today. We did have a few personal bests, but not as may as we would have liked, but ... without practice due to weather, that really hurts us," stated North Putnam coach Wesley Richardson.

The county teams have been preparing for the upcoming Sectional held at Crawfordsville High School.

"We are in the heart of taper right now, which is not a comfortable place for swimmers because it is an uncomfortable feeling. Their bodies are adjusting right now to having more rest from practice and intensity," says Greencastle coach Luke Beasley.

The Prelims will be held Thursday evening, Feb. 5 starting at 5:30. Finals and the consolation heat of each event will be held Saturday, Feb. 7.

At North Putnam

Girls Results

Greencastle 154, South Putnam 100, North Putnam 64

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Handy, Ball, Gannaway, Murtagh) 2:09.12, 2. South Putnam (New, York, Sherwood, Lund) 2:13.11, 3. North Putnam (B. Smith, Werner, Wilcox, Harper) 2:14.65, 4. Greencastle (Bittles, Hedge, Beams, Collins) 2:16.96, 5. South Putnam (McKean, Asher, Vance, Warren) 2:30.43, 6. North Putnam (Lasiter, Novak, Johnson, Kierstan) 2:40.07

200 Freestyle -- 1. Poor (GHS) 2:21.11, 2. Culler (GHS) 2:25.39, 3. Arnold (SP) 2:29.06, 4. Asher (SP) 2:46.01, 5. Novak (NP) 2:52.00, 6. Surber (NP) 3:05.28

200 Individual Medley -- 1. Ball (GHS) 1:52.81, 2. Bittles (GHS) 2:09.76, 3. Harper (NP) 2:15.02, 4. B. Smith (NP) 2:57.46, 5. Warren (SP) 3:02.12

50 Freestyle -- 1. Murtagh (GHS) 26.57, 2. Collins (GHS) 26.84, 3. Wilcox (NP) 26.90, 4. Lund (SP) 28.93, 5. New (SP) 33.23, 6. Nordmeyer (NP) 35.69

Diving -- 1. Lollar (SP), 2. Poor (GHS), 3. Like (GHS), 4. Seahorn (GHS)

100 Butterfly -- 1. Bittles (GHS) 1:05.63, 2. Ball (GHS) 1:09.63, 3. Sherwood (SP) 1:21.90, 4. Werner (NP) 1:22.22

100 Freestyle -- 1. Murtagh (GHS) 58.16, 2. Wilcox (NP) 1:00.75, 3. Arnold (SP) 1:06.61, 4. Beams (GHS) 1:07.07, 5. Vance (SP) 1:08.49, 6. Johnson (NP) 1:11.42

500 Freestyle -- 1. Collins (GHS) 5:45.02, 2. M. Terry (GHS) 5:56.07, 3. Harper (NP) 6:52.23, 4. Cox (SP) 7:24.12, 5. Spencer (SP) 8:07.73

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. South Putnam (Vance, Sherwood, Arnold, Lund) 1:57.61, 2. Greencastle (Aring, S. Terry, M. Terry, Michael) 1:58.46, 3. North Putnam (B. Smith, Werner, Harper, Wilcox) 2:07.32, 4. Greencastle (Beams, Hedge, Howard, Bittles) 2:08.50, 5. North Putnam (R. Smith, Lasiter, Greeson, Surber) 2:28.50

100 Backstroke -- 1. New (SP) 1:16.03, 2. Dory (GHS) 1:17.57, 3. B. Smith (NP) 1:19.25, 4. Hardy (GHS) 1:31.61, 5. McKean (SP) 1:31.15, 6. Greeson (NP) 1:37.19

100 Breaststroke -- 1. York (SP) 1:19.82, 2. Gannaway (GHS) 1:20.89, 3. Warren (SP) 1:31.15, 4. Werner (NP) 1:32.15, 5. Novak (NP) 1:33.86, 6. Small (GHS) 1:40.93

400 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Murtagh, Collins, M. Terry, Ball) 4:01.65, 2. South Putnam (Vance, Sherwood, Arnold, Lund) 4:37.93, 3. Greencastle (Tesmer, Howard, Harry, Small) 5:00.25, 4. South Putnam (Aker, Spencer, New, Cox) 5:14.99, 5. North Putnam (Lasiter, Kaufman, Nordmeyer, Surber) 5:43. 18

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