County swim teams race in boys' sectional at Plainfield

Friday, February 20, 2015
GHS' Zach Secrest swims the 100 breaststroke and will swim the breaststroke in the 200 relay Saturday. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

PLAINFIELD -- Putnam County's finest boys swimmers made the trek to Plainfield for the preliminary round of the IHSAA Swimming and Diving Sectional Thursday night.

Eleven swimmers and five relays will return in Saturday's finals as Avon, the No. 1 team in the state, put themselves in position to claim the sectional crown.

North Putnam's Jonah Creamean will feature in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly finals while Nick Young heads to the finals in the 200 and 500 freestyle races.

North Putnam's Jonah Creamean swims his 200 IM. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

The Cougars also have two relay teams in the finals, with the 200 medley relay team of Creamean, Andrew Rogers, Joseph Davis and Bailey Allen and the 200 freestyle relay team of Creamean, Davis, Young and Allen finishing in the top eight.

North Putnam head coach Tony Gray said the squad was a little nervous but still had a great night of swims.

"I think we set ourselves up pretty well," Gray said. "The most we've ever had is six Saturday swims and tonight we have about double that.

South Putnam's Zane Crosby in the 100 freestyle. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

"We set two school records, so it was a great night. The plan is to be our fastest on Saturday, so we're right on course to be where we want to be."

Greencastle's Elijah Brattain advanced to the finals in the 100 freestyle, as did Logan Wood in the 50 freestyle and Nathan Gobert in the 100 butterfly.

The Tiger Sharks advanced all three relays to the finals, with the 200 medley relay being composed of Gobert, Mitchell Johnson, Zach Secrest and Taylor Secrest, the 200 freestyle relay being manned by Wood, Brattain, Taylor Secrest and Jacob Kessler and the 400 freestyle relay being raced by Wood, Gobert, Brattain and Connor Stimpert.

Greencastle head coach Kent Menzel said that any swimmer returning to on Saturday had earned their place in a highly-competitive sectional.

"We swam well against the clock and against our own previous efforts," Menzel said. "We had all kinds of lifetime bests across the board tonight in the relays and individual swims.

"We needed those lifetime bests to get in to the finals. The level of competition here is so high that you have to be on your best game or left out.

"We did well and got people placed where we expected them to place, along with all three relays into the top eight," Menzel added. "We'll be able to relax and go after those Saturday.

"It takes a lot to perform well at this meet and our guys performed very well. It's nice to see Logan Wood and Nathan Gobert get into the top eight in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, respectively.

"It's also nice to have Elijah Brattain well-placed in the 100 freestyle as well," Menzel noted. "I'm looking for great swims from them, from the other swims and also from the relays."

South Putnam only has two swimmers in the finals but might be in the best position to advance a swimmer to the state meet.

Zane Crosby will be seeded first in the 100 freestyle and second in the 50 freestyle while Zach Rayce is seeded fourth in both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

South Putnam head coach Anna Kendall said the finalist duo put in great performances.

"They all swam really well," Kendall said. "All the guys swam lifetime bests and it's exciting to have Zane and Zach seeded so well for Saturday.

"Zane broke the 100 freestyle record and is taking this opportunity to push himself beyond what he thought was possible, even from last year. He's mentally and physically prepared and his mind is in the right place right now.

"Zach swam really well and lowered his school record in the 100 backstroke," Kendall added. "I think we're going to see faster swims out of those two on Saturday."

With the diving preliminaries on Saturday morning and the sectional finals in the afternoon, the three county schools have time to rest before putting in one more quality performance for the season.

Gray said the squad still had more in the tank to show when they arrived on Saturday.

"I think everyone has a little bit more to go," Gray pointed out. "We showed a little bit of nerves today and we ended up with about 85 percent of our swims being lifetime bests.

"Our goal was 90 percent, so we were close but hopefully we'll be great on Saturday. They'll be more focused and the key is that we have to learn how to bring the energy again this weekend."

Menzel said that apart from the finalists, there were plenty of consolation final swims to enjoy and three divers looking to make an impact at Plainfield.

"We have consolation swims up and down the line and that's a great accomplishment at this meet," Menzel said. "Everybody is fast this year, even teams that in the past have not provided a lot of competition.

"This year, they're all very fast. West Vigo is an example of a team that has completely transformed itself and raised its game.

"The other thing we're looking forward to is our diving crew," Menzel pointed out. "I think this is going to be the best year I can remember for us in terms of diving.

"Our three divers are talented and I think that they're ready. We're looking forward to see what they can do on Saturday as well."

Kendall said the seniors would be looking forward to the day while the Crosby and Rayce would be ready for the sectional to throw a curve at them, drawing on lessons learned from the girls' sectional final.

"I hope they're aware of any possibilities, but that being said, I think both of those guys have a good head on their shoulders," Kendall said. "I don't think they're going to be too rattled by any changes.

"Along with those two, we're going to give the seniors a chance to swim in the relays and lower their personal bests. I know they're looking forward to those last swims of their careers."

At Plainfield

IHSAA Boys' Swimming and Diving Sectional

Preliminary Results

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Avon 1:44.65; 2. Terre Haute South 1:44.74; 3. West Vigo 1:48.19; 4. North Putnam (Rogers, Davis, Creamean, Allen) 1:48.65; 5. Greencastle (Johnson, Z. Secrest, Gobert, T. Secrest) 1:49.07; 6. Plainfield 1:50.45; 7. Terre Haute North 1:53.49; 8. Tri-West 1:55.94; 9. South Putnam (Chambers, A. Fields, Rayce, Seidler) 1:58.06; 10. Cascade 2:11.27

200 Freestyle --1. Jones (A) 1:41.9; 2. Sprout (A) 1:45.73; 3. Mitchell (THS) 1:46.86; 4. Caldwell (A) 1:48.11; 5. Rhodes (P) 1:48.78; 6. Young (NP) 1:49.11; 7. States (P) 1:49.58; 8. Cammack (THS) 1:49.71; 9. Berg (D) 1:5.02; 10. Brattain (G) 1:50.75; 11. Crum (CA) 1:51.44; 12. Ghejan (THN) 1:52.13; 13. Turman (THS) 1:53.48; 14. Lennox (P) 1:55.06; 15. Miller (CA) 1:56.40; 16. Powers (THN) 1:56.64; 17. Richardson (D) 1:57.14; 18. Sheets (TW) 1:59.84

200 IM -- 1. Bray (A) 1:58.27; 2. Lewis (A) 1:58.81; 3. Partin (A) 2:02.93; 4. Barnes (THN) 2:03.52; 5. Allen (THS) 2:04.39; 6. Corbett (TW) 2:04.50; 7. Van Winkle (CA) 2:09.60; 8. Creamean (NP) 2:11.13; 9. Crowell (THS) 2:11.14; 10. Davis (NP) 2:13.26; 11. Stinson (P) 2:13.37; 12. Adams (P) 2:14.97; 13. Stimpert (G) 2:17.61; 14. Yeng (THS) 2:19.57; 15. Sherrill (WV) 2:23.80; 16. C. Lewis (G) 2:25.79; 17. Andre (P) 2:31.89; 18. Curry (THN) 2:32.03

50 Freestyle -- 1. Riley (THS) 22.17; 2. Crosby (SP) 22.24; 3. Hammons (A) 22.65; 4. Moore (A) 23.07; 5. Dowell (THS) 23.33; 6. Pawlowski (P) 23.36; 7. Emsweller (A) 23.39; 8. Wood (G) 23.59; 9. Stewart (D) 23.65; 10. Kessler (G) 23.74; 11. T. Secrest (G) 23.78; 12. Taflinger (THN) 23.90; 13. Allen (NP) 23.95; 14. Sturgess (THS) 24.34; 15. Saito (D) 24.4; 16. Rogers (NP) 24.68; 17. Grider (P) 24.8; 18. Turner (WV) 25.33

100 Butterfly -- 1. Lewis (A) 50.53; 2. Wang (A) 56.06; 3. Mali (A) 56.45; 4. Rayce (SP) 56.88; 5. Lucas (TW) 57.00; 6. Corbett (TW) 57.52; 7. Gobert (G) 57.60; 8. Creamean (NP) 58.07; 9. Wilson (THS) 58.55; 10. Hernandez (THS) 58.57; 11. Stewart (D) 58.90; 12. Adams (P) 59.29; 13. Thralls (WV) 59.33; 14. Kessler (G) 1:00.02; 15. Rogers (NP) 1:00.93; 16. Gatrell (THN) 1:01.63; 17. Grider (P) 1:02.08; 18. Lindley (TW) 1:02.27

100 Freestyle -- 1. Crosby (SP) 48.84; 2. Cammack (THS) 49.37; 3. Capstick (A) 49.90; 4. Moore (A) 50.04; 5. Brattain (G) 50.22; 6. Riley (THS) 50.31; 7. Emsweller (A) 50.42; 8. Berg (D) 50.68; 9. Barnes (THN) 51.18; 10. Pawlowski (P) 51.38; 11.Taflinger (THN) 51.56; 12. Miller (CA) 52.22; 13. Wood (G) 52.97; 14. Carrithers (THS) 53.93; 15. Allen (NP) 54.12; 16. Saito (D) 54.81; 17. Sherrill (WV) 55.00; 18. Priest (CA) 55.27

500 Freestyle -- 1. Jones (A) 4:36.97; 2. Sprout (A) 4:55.09; 3. Young (NP) 4:57.18; 4. Ghejan (THN) 4:59.69; 5. Fink (A) 5:00.95; 6. Turman (THS) 5:02.27; 7. Lennox (P) 5:07.37; 8. Crum (CA) 5:09.80; 9. Powers (THN) 5:09.83; 10. Sturgess (THS) 5:16.16; 11. Rogers (P) 5:27.12; 12. Sheets (TW) 5:27.57; 13. Smock (P) 5:28.65; 14. Stimpert (G) 5:30.73; 15. O'Neal (WV) 5:30.86; 16. Headley (G) 5:37.32; 17. Duncan (THN) 5:38.69; 18. Hernandez (THS) 5:38.72

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Terre Haute South 1:30.80; 2. Greencastle (Kessler, Wood, T. Secrest, Brattain) 1:33.36; 3. Avon 1:35.07; 4. Plainfield 1:35.11; 5. North Putnam (Creamean, Davis, Young, Allen) 1:35.61; 6. Terre Haute North 1:36.12; 7. Danville 1:36.84; 8. West Vigo 1:37.23; 9. Cascade 1:37.77; 10. Tri-West 1:38.06; 11. South Putnam (Seidler, Reed, Duggan, Pitts) 1:50.52

100 Backstroke -- 1. Mitchell (THS) 52.91; 2. Hammons (A) 54.49; 3. Caldwell (A) 55.77; 4. Rayce (SP) 57.15; 5. Rhodes (P) 57.32; 6. Richardson (D) 57.63; 7. Carrithers (THS) 57.87; 8. Lucas (TW) 58.19; 9. Wilson (THS) 58.67; 10. Czerwonky (A) 58.92; 11. Gatrell (THN) 59.16; 12. Van Winkle (CA) 1:00.10; 13. Johnson (G) 1:00.64; 14. Stinson (P) 1:02.00; 15. Sherill (WV) 1:02.38; 16. M. Timm (NP) 1:04.27; 17. Gobert (G) 1:04.46; 18. Ennis (WV) 1:05.43

100 Breaststroke -- 1. Bray (A) 58.79; 2. Partin (A) 1:01.65; 3. Wang (A) 1:02.8; 4. Crowell (THS) 1:03.28; 5. Allen (THS) 1:03.86; 6. States (P) 1:05.08; 7. Weir (WV) 1:05.09; 8. Weng (THS) 1:06.77; 9. Davis (NP) 1:08.82; 10. Z. Secrest (G) 1:10.51; 11. T. Secrest (G) 1:10.62; 12. Headley (G) 1:11.23; 13. Aspelt (TW) 1:11.29; 14. Rogers (P) 1:12.64; 15. Prose (THN) 1:14.82; 16. Bridge (P) 1:14.99; 17. A. Fields (SP) 1:15.42; 18. Whitford (WV) 1:16.94

400 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Terre Haute South 3:23.03; 2 Avon 3:26.79; 3. Plainfield 3:28.93; 4. Terre Haute North 3:29.74; 5. Cascade 3:30.13; 6. Danville 3:32.13; 7. Greencastle (Wood, Stimpert, Gobert, Brattain) 3:33.19; 8. West Vigo 3:34.02; 9. Tri-West 3:36.71; 10. South Putnam (Crosby, Pitts, A. Fields, Rayce) 3:43.66; 11. North Putnam (Rogers, Sheldon, M. Timm, Young) 3:47.68

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