Greencastle girls seize county swimming title

Coming in to Thursday's Putnam County meet, the Greencastle Lady Tiger Sharks held the top seed in every single swimming event.

They held serve until nearly the end of the meet, when South Putnam freshman Jessica York edged the Sharks' Sydney Terry and Caitlin Gannaway to win the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:21.34.

"Congrats to (Jessica York). She swam an awesome race," GHS coach Luke Beasley said of the performance.

South's Shelby Johnston also won the diving competition, but besides that it was all Greencastle, as the Lady Tiger Sharks amassed 10 county champions and 316 points on the night.

South Putnam was second with 199 points. North Putnam finished third with 90.

"I was happy with the effort our girls gave," Beasley said. "I commend our girls and the other teams. It's always an honor to come and compete for the county title."

A couple of close races GHS came out on top of were the 50 and 100 freestyle. In each, North Putnam's Katie Wilcox was seeded second and provided a strong challenge to the GHS swimmers.

"Wilcox is a great sprinter," Beasley said. "We always enjoy swimming against her."

After Wilcox came out on top in the two squads' duel meet, Beasley said his girls wanted another shot at her. They got it and took advantage of it. Kelsey Murtagh won the 50 free in 26.88. Erica Soster took the 100 free in 58.53.

Greencastle's Kelsey Murtagh swims the first leg of the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team. Murtagh was a four-time county champion, also winning the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay.

Murtagh was a four-time champion, also winning the 100 backstroke in 1:02.53 and being part of the Sharks' 200 medley relay team and 200 free relay team.

All three GHS relay teams were victorious. The medley team swam a 2:01.46 and the 200 free relay team won in 1:50.44. The 400 free relay team concluded the meet by winning in 4:27.13. Complete relay team lineups were not available.

Melissa Ball also won two individual events for the Sharks, winning the 200 IM in 2:23.24 and the 100 butterfly in 1:07.79.

The Sharks also swept the distance events with Erika Collins winning the 200 free in 2:19.65 and Morgan Terry winning the 500 in 6:02.26.

Beasley said he was happy with how his girls have responded to a new workout plan, as they have begun to taper their yards in preparation for next week's sectional.

"The girls are adjusting to a new feeling," he said.

Greencastle diving coach Mike Bostic was happy with the bravery of his top diver Sarah Land. The senior suffered a concussion when her face hit the water last week. To come back, get it off her mind and finish second in county impressed him.

"I'm proud of my girl," Bostic said. "Diving is something where you remember your hit and it's hard to get over. Tonight she 100 percent came back. I couldn't be any happier."

South Putnam's Johnston took the diving event with 188.75 points.

"Shelby did a great job," South Putnam coach Joe Condon said.

With his team's second place finish, Condon was happy. He was obviously proud of his two county champions.

"A couple of county champs -- that's great," Condon said.

He called York a "big meet swimmer," impressed with how his freshman could win the 100 breaststroke coming off an illness earlier in the week.

The Eagles are still practicing hard, yet achieved several personal bests. Condon thought that was a good sign of his team's potential for next week.

"We're in a good position right now," Condon said. "We're still working pretty hard and their times got better. To me, that's an indication we're ready to have a good sectional."

For North Putnam, the night was especially challenging coming off a triangular meet on Tuesday night.

"I think we did well tonight considering that we had a hard swim meet last night," coach Wesley Richardson said. I think each girl did excellent. I was happy with both Ryanne Lehr and Katie Wilcox. In fact, all the girls did a great job."

Wilcox had the Cougars' top performances, placing second in the 50 free with a 27.08 and third in the 100 free with a 59.88.

Richardson said he would be using the week until sectionals working on starts, turns, stroke technique and breathing technique.

"We're going to be in the water every day," Richardson said.

All three teams will be traveling to Crawfordsville next Thursday for the opening night of sectional. The Lady Tiger Sharks hope to give the hosts a run for their money in the sectional title chase.

"I think our girls' eye is toward the sectional next week," Beasley said. "We know it's going to be a competitive meet and a great challenge. We have every intention of giving our best and going for the victory."

The sectional competition begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. The finals will commence at 9 a.m. Saturday.

At South Putnam

Putnam County Girls' Meet

Greencastle 316, South Putnam 199, North Putnam 90

Individual Results

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Greencastle "A" 2:01.46, 2. Greencastle "B" 2:12.79, 3. South Putnam "A" 2:16.23, 4. North Putnam "A" 2:19.26, 5. South Putnam "B" 2:27.22

200 Freestyle -- 1. Collins (G) 2:19.65, 2. M. Terry (G) 2:19.29, 3. Bannon (G) 2:24.23, 4. Arnold (S) 2:31.44, 5. Lehr (N) 2:40.73, 6. Gilley (S) 2:37.52, 7. Carmichael (S) 3:06.58, 8. Preecs (N) 3:23.17, -- Norman (G) x2:25.83

200 IM -- 1. Ball (G) 2:23.24, 2. Aring (G) 2:44.11, 3. Hazel 2:49.46, 4. Werner 2:56.85, 5. York 3:02.95, 6. 3:06.71, 7. Cox (S) 3:10.38, 8. Novak (N) 3:28.04

50 Freestyle -- 1. Murtagh (G) 26.88, 2. Wilcox (N) 27.08, 3. Soster (G) 27.23, 4. S. Terry (G) 27.40, 5. Lund (S) 29.01, 6. Vance (S) 29.90, 7. New (S) 33.29, 8. Lasiter (N) 35.00, 9. Smith (N) 42.71, -- Tesmer (G) x30.82, -- Small (G) x33.85, -- Aker (S) 35.56

Diving -- 1. Johnston (S) 188.75, 2. Land (G) 170.05, 3. Lollar (S) 150.80, 4. Like (G) 143.80, 5. Good (G) 116.85, -- Lacher (G) 103.75, -- Seahorn (G) 100.40

100 Butterfly -- 1. Ball (G) 1:07.79, 2. Bittles (G) 1:10.87, 3. Tesmer (G) 1:22.78, 4. Sherwood (S) 1:25.77

100 Freestyle -- 1. Soster (G) 58.53, 2. Collins (G) 59.47, 3. Wilcox (N) 59.88, 4. Gannaway (G) 1:05.02, 5. Vance (S) 1:07.02, 6. Tomasino (S) 1:07.25, 7. Gilley (S) 1:14.39, 8. B. Smith (N) 1:15.36, 9. Lasiter (N) 1:20.96, -- Norman (G) x1:07.20, -- Small (G) x1:14.24

500 Freestyle -- 1. M. Terry (G) 6:02.26, 2. Aring (G) 6:19.63, 3. Bannon (G) 6:20.87, 4. Arnold (S) 6:58.02, 5. Cox (S) 7:45.57, 6. Preecs (N) 8:40.77

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle "A" 1:50.44, 2. Greencastle "B" 2:05.80, 3. South Putnam "A" 2:06.39, 4. North Putnam "A" 2:06.65, 5. North Putnam "B" 2:36.31

100 Backstroke -- 1. Murtagh (G) 1:02.53, 2. Hazel (G) 1:16.22, 3. New (S) 1:17.03, 4. Tomasino (S) 1:18.63, 5. Bittles (G) 1:21.47, 6. Lehr (N) 1:28.21, 7. Smith (N) 1:28.62, 8. Carmichael (S) 1:40.26, -- Handy (G) x1:23.29

100 Breaststroke -- 1. York (S) 1:21.34, 2. Terry (G) 1:22.17, 3. Gannaway (G) 1:23.80, 4. Werner (N) 1:31.04, 5. Warren (S) 1:31.36, 6. Poor (G) 1:32.17, 7. Novak (N) 1:38.60, 8. Aker (S) 1:47.28, -- Handy (G) 1:34.88

400 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle "A" 4:27.13, 2. Greencastle "B" 4:36.32, 3. South Putnam "A" 4:38.27, 4. South Putnam "B" 5:14.37, 5. North Putnam "A" 6:01.08

Next meet -- Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam will be back in action when they visit Crawfordsville for sectional at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.

x -- Exhibition. Only three swimmers' times may count per team, per event.