Putnam County athletes honored as All-Conference

Thirty area athletes have been honored with the distinction of All West Central Conference in their respective sports. Of the five sports recognized, Greencastle won All-Conference team honors in three sports (boys' and girls' swimming and boys' basketball) and South Putnam claimed one sport (wrestling).

Girls' Swimming

Greencastle edged Cascade in girls' swimming, despite the Cadets winning 10-of-12 events. Greencastle won with a total of 367, with South Putnam finishing third with a total of 243 and North Putnam was fourth with 126.

Greencastle's Rachel Custis won the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:10.89 and Emily Wheeler won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:19.08.

Boys' Swimming

Capturing 10 of the conference meets 12 events, Greencastle won with a total of 330. North Putnam was a close second with 305, with South Putnam placing third with a total of 259.

The Tiger Cubs had three swimmers win two individuals titles at the meet and won all three relay events.

Nash Firebaugh led the GHS charge, setting a record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.31. He also won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.05. Elijah Brattain took the top spot in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:57.55 and the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 53.61. Mitchell Ball captured the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:15.82 and the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:08.07.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Nathan Gardner, Taylor Secrest, Ball and Firebaugh won with a time of 2:04.40, while the team of Ball, Brattain, Firebaugh and Issac Harms won the 200-yard freestyle relay in a time of 1:42.55. The team of Gardner, Harms, Brattain and Alex Briones won the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:49.38.

Wrestling

South Putnam had six individual champions en route to its 2011-12 conference wrestling title. The Eagles won with a tally of 197, with GHS in second with 189.5. North Putnam was fifth overall with a total of 103 and Cloverdale was sixth with a total of 85 points.

Champions for South Putnam were Nick Owen (113), J.T. Franklin (132), Jacob Camacho (145), Jesse Gardner (160), Tanner Thompson (182) and Rudy Harris (195).

Greencastle had three champions crowned in Carter Lewis (170), Ben Hesler (220) and Will Mobley (285).

Cloverdale's Eldin Hesselgrave also won individual honor, taking the top spot on the podium in the 138 weight-class.

Girls' Basketball

One win separated first and second place in the West Central Conference in girls' basketball, with Cascade's 5-0 record good enough for conference honors. South Putnam was second with a record of 4-1, Greencastle was fourth going 2-3 on the season. Cloverdale finished sixth in the WCC with a 0-5 record.

South Putnam and Greencastle both had three members named to the All-Conference squad.

For the Eagles, Emily Dabkowski, Jenny Thompson and LeAnna Masters were selected, as was Greencastle's Hannah Wainman, Taylor Pruitt and Alex Basile.

Senior Kensy Asbell represented North Putnam on the conference team.

Boys' Basketball

Led by Nick Hutcheson's dominant senior season, Greencastle tied Monrovia for best record in the WCC at 4-1. The Tiger Cubs won the season matchup with the Bulldogs 71-59 on Feb. 3.

North Putnam was fourth in the WCC with a record of 2-3 and South Putnam and Cloverdale tied for fifth after posting records of 1-4.

Greencastle led the county in WCC selections with three. They were Hutcheson, Trevor Huber and Jesse Tesmer. South Putnam's Seth Hammond and Trey Moore were also recognized.

North Putnam's Tim Wiltermood and Cloverdale's Joe Fidler were also named to the conference squad.

2011-12 Winter All West Central Conference

Team Champions

Girls' Swimming -- Greencastle

Boys' Swimming -- Greencastle

Wrestling -- South Putnam

Girls' Basketball -- Cascade

Boy's Basketball -- Greencastle, Monrovia

Individual Selections

(Putnam County only)

Girls' Swimming -- Rachel Custis (GHS), Emily Wheeler (GHS)

Boys' Swimming -- Nash Firebaugh (GHS), Elijah Brattain (GHS), Mitchell Ball (GHS), Nathan Gardner (GHS), Taylor Secrest (GHS), Issac Harms (GHS), Alex Briones (GHS)

Wrestling -- Nick Owen (SP), J.T. Franklin (SP), Eldin Hesselgrave (CHS), Jacob Camacho (SP), Jesse Gardner (160), Carter Lewis (170), Tanner Thompson (SP), Rudy Harris (SP), Ben Hesler (GHS), Will Mobley (GHS)

Girls' Basketball -- Alex Basile (GHS), Taylor Pruitt (GHS), Hannah Wainman (GHS), Kensy Asbell (NP), Emily Dabkowski (SP), LeAnna Masters (SP), Jenny Thompson (SP)

Boys' Basketball -- Joe Fidler (CHS), Trevor Huber (GHS), Nick Hutcheson (GHS), Jesse Tesmer (GHS), Tim Wiltermood (NP), Seth Hammond (SP), Trey Moore (SP)