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Carmel swimmers won four individual events and all three relays to extend their national girls record for consecutive state championships to a 24th year during the 36th Annual State Finals in Indianapolis.

The Greyhounds racked up 419 points on the afternoon to win their fourth state championship under coach Chris Plumb. Center Grove finished runner-up for the third time with 186.5 points followed by Munster (166), Chesterton (165) and Hamilton Southeastern (163).

Carmel’s 24-year run is tied for the nation’s fifth-longest string of championships in history in any sport and is the longest active streak in the country regardless of sport or gender.

Senior Trish Regan won her second straight title in the 200 individual medley finishing in 2:00.09, won the 100 butterfly in 54.30 and was a part of two of Carmel’s three winning relays. She swam the butterfly leg on the 200 medley relay and anchored the 400 freestyle relay.

Colleen Drew, another Greyhound senior, took home the 500 freestyle title in 4:52.24 edging junior teammate and defending champion Lauren Jordan by .45-hundredths of a second.

Lacey Locke offered a glimpse of the future as the Carmel frosh won the 100 backstroke in 54.60.

Westfield senior Kait Flederbach also won two individual events. In the 100 freestyle, Flederbach (50.20) touched just ahead of Hamilton Southeastern’s Carly Mercer (50.63) for the second year in a row. Mercer was the 2008 champ in the event. Flederbach made it a sweep of this year’s sprint events also winning the 50 freestyle in 23.13.

Noblesville senior Meghan Potee claimed the one meter diving crown with a 11-dive total of 467.50 winning her second state championship of this school year. In October, she won the girls golf state championship by five strokes. Teammate Katie Bittner, last year’s diving champ, finished fourth.

Olivia Kabacinski, a Chesterton sophomore, won the 200 freestyle (1:49.07) and Center Grove sophomore Emma Schoettmer claimed the 100 breaststroke (1:02.49).

The 36th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis
February 12-13, 2010

Top 10 Teams
1.    Carmel: 419
2.    Center Grove: 186.5
3.    Munster: 166
4.    Chesterton: 165
5.    Hamilton Southeastern: 163
6.    Zionsville: 136
7.    Homestead: 112
8.    Noblesville: 88
9.    North Central (Indianapolis): 87
10.  Columbus North: 86

State Champions
200 Medley Relay – Carmel (Lacey Locke 9, Lauren Stauder 12, Trish Regan 12, Carly Marshall 11), 1:41.96.
200 Freestyle – Olivia Kabacinski, 10, Chesterton, 1:49.07.
200 Individual Medley – Trish Regan, 12, Carmel, 2:00.09.
50 Freestyle – Kait Flederbach, 12, Westfield, 23.13.
One Meter Diving – Meghan Potee, 12, Noblesville, 467.50.
100 Butterfly – Trish Regan, 12, Carmel, 54.30.
100 Freestyle – Kait Flederbach, 12, Westfield, 50.20.
500 Freestyle – Colleen Drew, 12, Carmel, 4:52.24.
200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Carly Marshall, 11, Lucy Kramer 10, Rhiannon Sheets 11, Lacey Locke 9) 1:34.58.
100 Backstroke – Lacey Locke, 9, Carmel, 54.60.
100 Breaststroke – Emma Schoettmer, 10, Center Grove, 1:02.49.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Alexis Bullard, 10, Rhiannon Sheets 11, Margaret Ramsey 10, Trish Regan 12) 3:25.14.

State Championship Record Streaks
Longest streaks of consecutive state championships, all sports, all states
29 – Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii, boys swimming, 1958-86.
27 – Pickford, Mich., boys track and field, 1952-78.
26 – Woonsocket Mt. St. Charles Academy, R.I., boys hockey, 1978-2003.
25 – Paulsboro, NJ, wrestling, 1983-2007.
24 – Carmel, Ind., girls swimming, 1986-2010.*
24 – Tacoma Wilson, Wash., boys swimming, 1960-84.
22 – Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii, girls swimming, 1974-95.
21 – Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, Fla., girls swimming, 1956-76.
*Active streak.
(Source: National Federation of State High School Associations)

Kait Flederbach of Westfield Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the meet, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee selected Kait Flederbach of Westfield High School as this year’s winner of the Mental Attitude Award in girls swimming and diving.

The award is presented annually to a senior, nominated by her principal and coach, who demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

The Westfield captain was a double winner at this year’s state finals, taking home titles in the 100 Freestyle and 50 Freestyle.  She was also a member of the 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay teams.  Kait successfully defended her 100 Freestyle title from 2009, and ends her high school career with three first-place medals.  Named as an NISCA (National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association) All-American in 2009 and 2010, Flederbach has been invited to train at elite camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Kait is active within her church, and has been a member of the Westfield Best Buddies chapter, an organization that seeks to provide opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.  She has also volunteered her time at swim club fundraisers and has participated in canned food drives.

Flederbach owns a cumulative 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.  She plans to attend the University of Arizona next and major in Speech Pathology.

Westfield Principal, Stacy McGuire commented, “Not only has Kait been very successful academically and athletically, she also truly been a positive influence on her team, in her school and in the community.  She has set high standards for herself in all aspects of life and has worked extremely hard to reach them.”

She is the daughter of Mark and Lynda Flederbach.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented Westfield High School with a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Flederbach.