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Firebaugh paces butterfly field in prelims: GHS swimmers will pursue sectional glory on Saturday
PLAINFIELD -- Greencastle junior Nash Firebaugh qualified with the fastest 100-yard butterfly time at Thursday's swimming sectional preliminary at Plainfield and he will lead a strong group of Tiger Cubs into Saturday's final.
Firebaugh also qualified second in the 50 free, and will be joined Saturday by seniors Alex Asbell and Tyler Hudson, juniors Isaac Harms, Brant Mangrum and Nathan Gardner, sophomores Elijah Brattain, Taylor Secrest and Jason Ummel and freshman Jacob Kessler.
All three relays also advanced to the championship final for the Tiger Cubs, and diver Levi Lewis will also look to chip in.
"The boys were very motivated tonight, and swam very, very well start to finish," GHS coach Kent Menzel said. "We had high expectations, but then we exceeded those expectations. We had lots of guys who were seeded outside the top-16 coming in who worked their way in."
Firebaugh's butterfly time Thursday (51.65 seconds) was well under the state qualifying time of 52.66 seconds, which means if he can repeat the result, he'll advance to next week's state finals regardless of getting a win.
His qualifying time was also more than one second ahead of second place, set by Avon sophomore Grant Lewis.
Before he moves on to the fly, Firebaugh will look for a win in the 50-yard freestyle.
He'll start in lane five, next to top-qualifier Grant Callahan (Danville), and may need to win to advance to the state finals.
Firebaugh's time Thursday (22.23 seconds) was more than a half-second off state-standard pace (21.71 seconds), a significant drop in such short a race.
"Nash Firebaugh had a great night," Menzel said. "He did a great 50 free -- exactly what he needed to do tonight -- so he's in good position for Saturday and feeling good. And his 100 fly was just phenomenal. Smooth; under control; very well done. It should be a great swim on Saturday as well."
Though Firebaugh is likely the only GHS -- and Putnam County -- swimmer with a chance to move on to the state finals, the Tiger Cubs are flush with quality racers and have a chance to make some noise, and have fun, at Saturday's sectional final.
"The boys really believe in their 200 free relay, so we're going to be putting a lot of energy into that on Saturday," Menzel said. "The boys in the 400 free relay really lit it up today. All four of them had lifetime best swims today. I just could not be more proud of those boys."
Races to watch include Brattain, Asbell and Harms in the 200 free 'B' final, Ummel in the 200 IM 'B' final, Mangrum in the 50 free 'B' final, Gardner 100 fly championship final, Brattain in the 100 free championship final, Harms in the 500 free 'B' final (with Asbell the first alternate), Gardner in the 100 back championship final, Secrest and Hudson in the 100 breast 'B' final and all three relays.
"Elijah Brattain's 100 free was right on target; a lifetime-best for him and it puts him in great position," Menzel said. "Then Nathan Gardner also had a lifetime-best in the 100 backstroke and is ready to go in the top-eight heat.
"Nathan is also positioned in the top-eight in the 100 fly with another great swim from him. Those two boys will be leading the effort on Saturday, but they've got a lot of swimmers in the consolation heat that will be backing them up. We're looking for great things."
In order to qualify for the state finals, a swimmer must win his sectional or finish faster than the pre-designated time.
Diving will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Plainfield High School. After a break, swimming will begin at 1 p.m.
"Probably the most important goal for Saturday," Menzel said, "after the pressure of today is over, is just to plain have fun."