Tiger Cub swimmers decend on IUPUI

Greencastle swimmer Kelsey Murtagh finsihed placed 12th in the 100-yard backstroke event at the State Championships Friday night. Murtagh posted a 58.01 for the finish and also placed 34th in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 55.92. Murtagh was Greencastle's only swimmer to advance to Saturday's competition.

INDIANAPOLIS -- They all went to Indy with the mission to swim on finals day.

One of them will complete that mission.

Kelsey Murtagh will be representing the Lady Tiger Sharks of Greencastle High School today when she swims in the consolation round of the Indiana High School Athletic Association girls state swim finals.

Murtagh swam a 58.01 in the 100-yard backstroke, putting her in the 12th seed for today's consolation round.

Even though he has only one swimmer returning today, GHS Coach Luke Beasley is proud of his swimmers.

"Kelsey swam a great race," Beasley said. "She swam a 58 and will be swimming Saturday, finals day, which is a big thing.

"Not a single one of these girls have anything to be ashamed about," Beasley continued. "In fact, they should be extremely proud of their performance, every one of them. The finals are always an exciting meet, and the girls did a great job of making it here."

Beasley said in hindsight, he himself could have done some things differently.

"I did envision some better swims and some better results for our girls, but the fact that we didn't get those doesn't reflect on them," he said. "It reflects on me and the mistakes that I made in preparing them for this meet."

Murtagh swam in the 100-yard freestyle earlier in the meet and clocked a time of 55.92, placing her 34th in the state. The 200-yard relay team of Murtagh, Terry Morgan, Melissa Ball and Erika Collins swam a 1:55.49, placing them in 25th in the state.

Ball also swam in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 25.65 for 32nd place.

The finals and consolation rounds begin today at 1:05 p.m.