South Putnam claims best-ever swimming sectional finish

South Putnam’s Jakob Hutcheson takes a breath during the 200-yard freestyle at Saturday’s Avon Sectional.

Ronnie Wilson photo

AVON – South Putnam had the highest finishers among Putnam County participants in the finals of the IHSAA boys’ swimming sectional on Saturday and placed fifth as a team.

Freshman Lee Haywood finished third in one-meter diving with a total of 447.95, earning advancement to the diving regional this week.

The Eagles placed third in the 200-yard medley relay. The South Putnam team of Jared Seidler, Evan Steffy, Eric Hinkle and Jakob Hutcheson finished 7.63 seconds behind the winning team from Avon.

Greencastle’s Preston Headley swims his leg of the 200-yard medley relay.

Ronnie Wilson photo

Avon won the team title, followed by Plainfield, Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South.

South Putnam coach Anna Kendall was pleased with her team and its best-ever team finish.

“The South guys were absolutely incredible throughout the whole meet,” she said, “but specifically came in to finals on Saturday with a lot of courage and determination to move up from their prelim seed and swim faster.”

Kendall noted that Jake Hutcheson paced the team with “heroic” efforts in all four of his finals swims.

“He dropped more time from his lifetime bests in all of them and competed well with the elite swimmers at this sectional,” she said. “Jared Seidler also had four strong performances and provided leadership for the team throughout the meet.

“Lee Haywood will move on for us to the diving regional, and every team member played a role in the fifth-place team finish,” Kendall added. “This was a well-deserved accomplishment for the boys.

Greencastle’s top finisher was its 200-yard freestyle relay team, which placed fifth in 1:34.37. Team members were Jackson Riggle, Jack Custis, Sal Martoglio and Preston Headley.

North Putnam’s Kyle Young extends his arms in the 100 butterfly.

Ronnie Wilson photo

North Putnam’s top finisher was Kyle Young, who finished sixth in the 200-yard individual medley. His time was 2:06.93.

Team scores — Avon 404, Plainfield 346, Terre Haute North 345, Terre Haute South 295, South Putnam 172, Greencastle 163, Tri-West 147, Cascade 125, Danville 103, North Putnam 98.

200 Medley Relay — 1. Avon 1:37.37; 3. South Putnam (Jared Seidler, Evan Steffy, Eric Hinkle, Jakob Hutcheson) 1:45.00; 4. Greencastle (Jack Romer, Preston Headley, Jackson Riggle, Sal Martoglio) 1:45.11; 10. North Putnam (Tyler Thompson, Kyle Young, Matthew Trotter, Nathan Ballard) 1:51.68.

200 Freestyle — 1. Jackson Vanwanzeele (Plainfield) 1:41.64; 7. Jakob Hutcheson (SP) 1:48.79; 12. Nathan Ballard (NP) 1:56.41; 16. Ben Parsons (G) 2:02.98.

200 Individual Medley — 1. Elliot Cooper (Avon) 2:01.35; 6. Kyle Young (NP) 2:06.93; 11. Evan Steffy (SP) 2:15.79; 12. Jack Romer (G) 2:16.55; 14. Eric Hinkle (SP) 2:18.75.

50 Freestyle — 1. Max Wiser (Plainfield) :21.03; 6. Jared Seidler (SP) :23.11; 8. Jackson Riggle (G) :23.42; 13. Sal Martoglio (G) :23.90.

One-meter diving – 1. Dylan Porter (Danville) 547.95; 3. Lee Haywood (SP) 447.95; 12. David Lorimer (SP) 215.80; 14. Jackson Kendall (G) 183.50.

100 Butterfly — 1. Jackson Vanwanzeele (Plainfield) :50.36; 7. Jackson Riggle (G) :57.41; 8. Kyle Young (NP) :57.98; 11. Eric Hinkle (SP) :59.92; 16. Kyle Cunningham (SP) 1:05.98.

100 Freestyle — 1. Max Wiser (Plainfield) :47.00; 8. Preston Headley (G) :51.71; 11. Jared Seidler (SP) :51.94.

500 Freestyle — 1. Austin Toney (Avon) 4:45.53; 5. Jakob Hutcheson (SP) 5:05.92; 7. Nathan Ballard (NP) 5:15.29; 15. Tyler Thompson (NP) 5:33.88.

200 Freestyle Relay —1. Plainfield 1:27.70; 5. Greencastle (Jackson Riggle, Jack Custis, Sal Martoglio, Preston Headley) 1:34.37; 7. South Putnam (Kyle Cunningham, Lee Haywood, Zion Harris, Andrew Carr) 1:39.40; 9. North Putnam (Matthew Trotter, Mason Allen, Matthew Ballard, Jacob Farrington) 1:44.03.

100 Backstroke — 1. Harrison Wood (Avon) :52.29; 8. Jack Romer (G) :59.96; 13. Henry Carter (G) 1:06.00; 16. Kyle Cunningham (SP) 1:09.33.

100 Breaststroke — 1. Nathan Sommer (THN) :59.66; 6. Preston Headley (G) 1:05.79; 10. Evan Steffy (SP) 1:09.34; 11. Michael White (G) 1:09.94.

400 Freestyle Relay — 1. Plainfield 3:13.30; 6. South Putnam (Jakob Hutcheson, Eric Hinkle, Evan Steffy, Jared Seidler) 3:29.08; 7. Greencastle (Jack Cusis, Henry Carter, Ben Parsons, Jack Romer) 3:36.64; 8. North Putnam (Kyle Young, Tyler Thompson, Matthew Trotter, Nathan Ballard) 3:38.71.