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Carmel swimmers won the first four events and eight overall and ran away with the team competition for a national high school girls record 23rd consecutive state championship during the 35th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals in Indianapolis.

Amassing a state meet record 427 points, Carmel outdistanced runner-up Hamilton Southeastern with 227 points for the third straight year. Homestead with 163 finished third, Chesterton with 161 was fourth and Noblesville with 149.5 was fifth.

Carmel’s streak began in the fall of 1986 and, entering today’s meet, the school had been tied with Punahou of Honolulu, HI, which had won 22 straight titles in girls swimming and diving from 1974-95. Carmel’s run is the nation’s sixth-longest string of championships in history in any sport and is the longest active streak in the country regardless of sport or gender. The Greyhounds are coached by third-year leader Chris Plumb.

Carmel’s relay teams broke three state meet records during the afternoon, including two national marks.

The 200 medley relay team of Jessie Hammes, Lauren Stauder, Devon Mason and Megan Detro raced to a national record for the second day in a row with a time of 1:41.68. The foursome had broken the national mark during Friday’s prelims in 1:42.09. The previous mark of 1:42.71 had been held by Hartland Arrowhead (WI) since 2005.

Later in the meet, Detro and Hammes joined Logan Mason and Trish Regan to set a national record in the 200 free relay stopping the clock at 1:32.75. The group eclipsed the state record mark of 1:34.50 Carmel had set Friday night. Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) had owned the national mark of 1:32.77 since 2002.

In the final event of the day, Logan Mason and Regan teamed with Carly Marshall and Rhiannon Sheets in the 400 free relay. The group timed out in 3:24.22 bettering the state record of 3:25.92 Hamilton Southeastern had set Friday.

In addition to the relays, five different Greyhounds captured individual state titles.

Trish Regan, last year’s 200 freestyle winner but not entered in this year’s event, took the 200 individual medley in 2:01.83. Logan Mason captured the 200 free in 1:48.99; Detro won the 50 free crown in 23.47; Lauren Jordan won the 500 free in 4:53.95 and; Hammes took home honors in the 100 backstroke in :55.29.

Two Homestead sisters captured a pair of titles as well. McKenzie Bagan capped her senior year with the 100 butterfly crown in a time of :54.82. She had finished second a year ago and was fourth in 2007. And sophomore Tori Bagan won the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.83.

Westfield’s Kait Flederbach, the sixth place finisher in the 100 freestyle last year, edged defending champion Carly Mercer of Hamilton Southeastern at the wall in this year’s event. Flederbach touched in :50.38, just .11 of a second ahead of Mercer.

Noblesville’s Katie Bittner tallied 470.05 points for her 11 dives to win the one-meter competition.

The 35th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis
February 13-14, 2009

Top 10 Teams
1. Carmel: 427
2. Hamilton Southeastern: 227
3. Homestead: 163
4. Chesterton: 161
5. Noblesville: 149.5
6. North Central (Indianapolis): 137
7. Center Grove: 117
8. Columbus North: 106
9. Zionsville: 91
10. Westfield: 84.5

State Champions
200 Medley Relay – Carmel (Jessie Hammes 12, Lauren Stauder 11, Devon Mason 10, Megan Detro 12), 1:41.68. National, State Record.
200 Freestyle – Logan Mason, 12, Carmel, 1:48.99.
200 Individual Medley – Trish Regan, 11, Carmel, 2:01.83.
50 Freestyle – Megan Detro, 12, Carmel, :23.47.
One Meter Diving – Katie Bittner, 10, Noblesville, 470.05.
100 Butterfly – McKenzie Bagan, 12, Homestead, :54.82
100 Freestyle – Kait Flederbach, 11, Westfield, 50.38.
500 Freestyle – Lauren Jordan, 10, Carmel, 4:53.95.
200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Megan Detro 12, Jessie Hammes 12, Logan Mason 12, Trish Regan 11) 1:32.75. National, State Meet Record.
100 Backstroke – Jessie Hammes, 12, Carmel, :55.29.
100 Breaststroke – Tori Bagan, 10, Homestead, 1:02.83.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Carly Marshall 10, Logan Mason 12, Rhiannon Sheets 10, Trish Regan 11) 3:24.22. State Meet Record.

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 – Tacoma Wilson, Wash., boys swimming, 1960-84.
23 – Carmel, Ind., girls swimming, 1986-2009.*
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)

Carmel's Jessica Hammes Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the meet, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee selected Jessica Hammes of Carmel 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.

Jessica served as team captain of this season’s state championship team, and was part of two state meet and national record-setting relay teams – the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay. She also won the 100 backstroke state title and placed second in the 100 butterfly.

She is a two year NCAA Stay in Bounds Ambassador, has served her community as a four-year youth liturgy lector at church, and is a Relay for Life participant for the American Cancer Society.  She organized and led the first Carmel Swim Club Holiday Food Drive for Hamilton County, is a Carmel Swim Club camp volunteer and has been a member of the Carmel Swim Club all four years of high school.

Hammes has a GPA of 4.14 on a 4.0 scale.  She plans on swimming for Stanford University next fall, majoring in human biology.

Carmel Principal, John Williams commented, “Jessica displays sportsmanship in the pool against all competitors and truly believes in the philosophy of hard work and respect.  Jessica wrote a reflective paper for a class earlier this year and said, ‘All the gold medals in the world are meaningless if you don’t know how to treat others with respect.’”

She is the daughter of Gregory and Deborah Hammes.

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