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South Putnam tops county swimmers at Plainfield Sectional
PLAINFIELD – South Putnam finished fifth overall Saturday at the IHSAA Plainfield Boys’ Swimming and Diving Sectional to lead the Putnam County schools at the event.
The Eagles (178) finished behind Cascade (195) and ahead of Danville (154) with North Putnam seventh (119), Cloverdale ninth (24) and Greencastle 10th (23).
In an incredible finish, Plainfield (464) beat out Avon (463) to win the sectional title for a fifth-straight year after the event was moved from the Vigo County Aquatic Center back to Hendricks County midweek due to a maintenance issue at the venue.
“Our boys’ team did a phenomenal job of competing both days in a tough sectional,” South Putnam head coach Anna Kendall said. “A majority of them had not swam in the championship finals before and they handled themselves really well.
“In most events, we had multiple athletes qualify, which is a testament to the growth of these young swimmers over the course of the season. They all made it a priority to get better at getting better, but a big part of that overall culture is Brodie Carr, our only senior.
“He has been invaluable and has pulled the team together, coached them up from the inside, encouraged and connected with all of them throughout the season,” Kendall added. “He’s been an amazing leader for the team and we will miss him terribly.”
South Putnam began the meet by finishing fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:45.37) through Wyatt Kendall, Brent Cunningham, Jonah Taylor and Keaton Chew, having topped the even in the preliminary round. North Putnam (2:00.13) finished seventh through Gunnar Eastep, Evan Polley, Carter Thomas and Michael Ali while Greencastle (2:16.90) was eighth through Daniel Dinn, Mason Howard, Justin Evans and Samuel Hanlon.
The Cougars would later finish fourth in the 200 free relay (1:40.33) through Ali, Thomas, Warren Moncur and Ethan Harrison with the Eagles sixth (1:42.32) though Cunningham, Landon Chew, Luke Hutcheson and Logan Johnson. South Putnam finished sixth in the 400 free relay (3:40.86) behind Chew, Johnson, Taylor and Kendall while North Putnam finished seventh (3:43.84) behind Moncur, Ali, Harrison and Thomas.
Kendall had the top two individual finishes on the day, finishing fifth in the 100 back (1:00.28) and sixth in the 500 free (5:09.33). Cunningham also finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.01) while Harrison finished seventh (1:07.61).
Clover senior Carson Hall picked up two seventh-place finishes on the day in the 200 free (1:54.02) and 100 free (51.60) while Cougar senior Thomas (51.92) finished eighth in the latter event.
“I was impressed with our relays, all of which clocked season bests on Saturday,” Kendall said. “The medley relay finished fourth, our highest finish of the meet.
“Individually, Wyatt had an outstanding two-day meet, swimming lifetime bests by significant margins both on Thursday and then again Saturday in the finals. He has his eyes set on one of the only records from the ‘70s left on our board: the 500 free. His time of 5:09 puts him within striking distance for his senior year.”
Other finishes at the sectional included:
200 Free — Harrison (NP, ninth, 1:57.92); Johnson (SP, 11th, 2:04.22); Hutcheson (SP, 15th 2:13.10)
200 IM — Taylor (SP, 12th, 2:22.49)
50 Free — Chew (SP, 11th, 24.14); Cunningham (SP, 14th, 25.38)
100 Fly — Taylor (SP, 15th, 1:03.22); Braeger (NP, 15th, 1:04.90)
100 Free — Chew (SP, 13th, 54.30)
500 Free — Johnson (SP, 11th, 5:49.25); Brown (SP, 16th, 6:23.28)
100 Back — Chew (SP, 11th, 1:09.43); Bumgardner (SP, 12th, 1:11.64); Eastep (NP. 13th. 1:12.86); Polley (NP, 14th, 1:13.15); Stonebreaker (G, 16th, 1:15.03)
100 Breaststroke — Lady (SP, 12th, 1:11.31); Hutcheson (SP, 13th, 1:11.59)