News

SIX FORMER CHAMPS RETURN, CARMEL GIRLS CHASE 25TH IN A ROW
Six individuals who have previously stood on top of the awards podium return and Carmel’s quest for a 25th consecutive state championship highlight this weekend’s 36th Annual Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals.

Preliminary swimming heats will begin Friday at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT at the Indiana University Natatorium with the top 16 in each event returning Saturday for the championship and consolation finals scheduled for 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT. The state diving competition begins Saturday at 9 am ET.

Should it win a 25th consecutive title on Saturday afternoon, Carmel would tie for the nation’s fourth-longest string of state championships in any sport. With fifth-year coach Chris Plumb guiding the team, the mark continues to be the longest active streak in the country regardless of sport or gender.

Three individuals who left the Natatorium with blue ribbon medals 12 months ago are back.

Emma Schoettmer, a Center Grove junior, is the defending champion in the 100 breaststroke. She’ll begin the weekend with the third-best time (1:02.87), just a fraction of a second behind the 1:02.44 put up by Mount Vernon’s Erika McCormick.

Carmel sophomore Lacey Locke became the first frosh to win the 100 backstroke since 1991 last year and enters with the second-fastest time (56.05) just behind teammate Alexis Bullard’s 55.06 in the event.

Chesterton’s Olivia Kabacinski, last year’s 200 freestyle winner, is not entered in this year’s event but will take the second-best time into the 100 freestyle (51.78) and eighth-fastest in the 50 free (24.20).

Three other individual state champions from previous years include Noblesville senior Katie Bittner, the 2009 champ in the one-meter diving competition. She finished fourth a year ago and finished third in Tuesday’s regional at Fishers. Carmel senior Lauren Jordan is the top seed in the 500 freestyle (4:54.51). She won the 2009 title and was nipped at the wall and took second in last year’s final. After capturing the 100 breaststroke as a sophomore and settling for third last year, Homestead senior Tori Bagan is the second seed this weekend (1:02.63). She also had the state’s top sectional time in the 50 free (23.76).

Other top seeds include Elwood’s Mary Beth Dunnichay, a 2008 Olympian, who is competing in the one meter spring board and accumulated a whopping 560.65 points in the Fishers Regional on Tuesday night. The state meet record of 504.10 would appear to be in jeopardy. Rhiannon Sheets of Carmel holds the top spot in both the 200 freestyle (1:49.47) and the 100 butterfly (55.04), Plymouth’s Kenzie Miller sits first in the 200 individual medley (2:04.72) and Zoe Mattingly of Zionsville swam a 51.19 in the 100 free.

State Finals
Dates
Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, 6 pm ET (Swimming prelims).
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, 9 am ET (Diving prelims and semis), 1 pm ET (Consolations and finals for all events).
Admission: $8 per session or $12 both days.
Site: Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, 901 W. New York St., Indianapolis | Website
Advancement
The top 16 in each swimming event during Friday’s prelims will return for competition on Saturday with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors. Those finishing nine through 16 on Friday will make up the competitors in the consolation heats. All diving will take place on Saturday with the top 21 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.
Webcast: Saturday’s championship and consolation events will be streamed live at www.ihsaatv.org beginning at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT. Mark Jaynes, Tony Young, Matt Taylor and Sean McCarthy will serve as the announcing crew.

State Finals Heat Sheets | Psych Sheets | Diving Order

Notables

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)

Defending State Champions in Field (Individual Events)
100 Backstroke: Lacey Locke, 10, Carmel is the second seed in this year’s event; also fourth seed in 200 IM.
100 Breaststroke: Emma Schoettmer, 11, Center Grove is the third seed in this year’s event.
Note: Olivia Kabacinski, 11, Chesterton, won last year’s 200 freestyle but is not entered in this year’s event.

Other Former State Champions in Field (Individual Events)
One Meter Diving: Katie Bittner, 12, Noblesville won the diving competition in 2009 and finished fourth in 2010.
500 Freestyle: Lauren Jordan, 12, Carmel is the top seed this year; she won the event in 2009 and finished second in 2010.
100 Breaststroke: Tori Bagan, 12, Homestead is the second seed this year; she won the event in 2009 and finished third in 2010.

Top Seeds
200 Medley Relay – Homestead, 1:44.72.
200 Freestyle – Rhiannon Sheets, 12, Carmel, 1:49.47.
200 IM – Kenzie Miller, 12, Plymouth, 2:04.72.
50 Freestyle – Tori Bagan, 12, Homestead, 23.76.
One Meter Diving – Mary Beth Dunnichay, 12, Elwood, 560.65.
100 Butterfly – Rhiannon Sheets, 12, Carmel, 55.04.
100 Freestyle – Zoe Mattingly, 11, Zionsville, 51.19.
500 Freestyle – Lauren Jordan, 12, Carmel, 4:54.51.
200 Freestyle Relay – Homestead, 1:35.92.
100 Back – Alexis Bullard, 11, Carmel, 55.06.
100 Breast – Erika McCormick, 11, Mt. Vernon, 1:02.44.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel, 3:32.43.

Media Information

Media Hosts: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille and Communications Director Chris Kaufman will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state meet.

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, 4 pm ET. The 2010-11 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this fall is good for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the girls swimming and diving state finals, please apply by e-mailing your request (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille | jwille@ihsaa.org. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests may be claimed at the media will call table at the concourse level of the IU Natatorium. Please have proper identification available.

Media Work Area: Working space will be available to writers and photographers in the west bleachers of the Natatorium. Results from each event will be distributed and also posted to the IHSAA website as the meet progresses both days. Writers and photographers also will have access to the pool deck.

Wireless Internet: IUPUI will provide complimentary guest accounts to those needing wireless access. Please see IHSAA’s Jason Wille for details.

Off Limits: For safety and liability reasons, members of the media are not permitted on the moveable bulkheads that separate the pools or on any of the diving platforms. Also, due to congestion in the immediate area of the starting blocks with timers and judges, we ask that writers and photographers steer clear of that area as well. Editors and sports directors -- please share this information with those who are covering the event and might not necessarily have access to this release. Thank you for your cooperation.

Results: Results will be posted to the IHSAA website at ihsaa.org shortly after each event both days. Heat sheets for Saturday will be posted following completion of Friday’s events and complete results for both days will be available at the conclusion of Saturday’s festivities.

 

***

 

STATE WRESTLING BERTHS ON THE LINE SATURDAY
The 73rd Annual Individual Wrestling State Tournament reaches the semi-state level this Saturday, Feb. 12, at four sites. The top four finishers in each weight class will earn a spot in the state championship brackets that run Feb. 18-19 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Results from Saturday’s semi-states will be posted at ihsaa.org as they become available from the host sites while state finals brackets will be available Sunday afternoon.

Individual Semi-States
Date: Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011.
Admission: $6 (Final session only); $10 (Season ticket).
Advancement: The top four place winners in each weight class advance to the state finals.

1. Merrillville (at Merrillville H.S.) | 9 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Calumet, LaPorte, Logansport, Rochester.
2. Woodlan (at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum) | 9 am ET
Feeder Regionals: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Goshen, Jay County, Peru.
3. New Castle (at New Castle H.S.) | 9 am ET
Feeder Regionals: North Montgomery, Pendleton Heights, Perry Meridian, Richmond.
4. Evansville Reitz (at Roberts Stadium) | 9 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Bloomington South, Castle, Jeffersonville, Mooresville.

Individual State Finals
Dates & Times
Friday, Feb. 18, 6 pm ET (First Round).
Saturday, Feb. 19 (Quarterfinals at 9:30 am ET with semifinals to follow; Consolations at 5 pm ET; Finals at 7:30 pm ET).
Admission: $8 per session or $20 both days.
Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | Website
Webcast: www.ihsaasports.org will provide live video of Saturday night’s championship bouts beginning at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT.
Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 17, at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. Please note that the 2010-11 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will NOT allow admission to this event as a specific credential is required – no exceptions. Legitimate working news media should apply for credentials by e-mailing (with name of individual applying) IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: gmail.com, yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be left to claim by the individual at media will-call at Conseco Fieldhouse beginning at 3 pm ET on Friday. Identification is necessary to pick up credentials.

 

***

 

STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled by VarVee.com, the IHSAA’s official statistics gathering partner. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering at www.varvee.com and updating statistics by each Monday through the end of the season.

Girls Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Boys Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Wrestling: State Leaders
Girls Basketball: State Leaders
Boys Basketball: State Leaders

 

***

 

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE
Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org.

Whitney Arion surpassed 1,000 career points with 17 points as Delphi’s girls basketball team defeated Tri-County 63-47 on Jan. 13. Arion’s 3-pointer early in the second half made her the third Delphi girls basketball player to achieve more than 1,000 career points, joining Rainey Alting and Kaysee Stoner. Summer Sutton added 16 points and 12 rebounds in the victory for Delphi.

Donna Cheatham, the state’s winningest girls basketball coach, won the 600th game of her 36-year career with her Scottsburg team’s 75-56 victory over Silver Creek on Jan. 29. Currently in her second stint as Scottsburg coach, she is 602-187 overall. She led Scottsburg to the 1989 state championship and a 1986 runner-up finish before leaving for Southwestern (Hanover), where she coached from 1998 to 2009 and led the school to the 2002 2A state championship and a 2003 2A runner-up finish. She returned as Scottsburg coach in 2009.

Plymouth girls basketball coach Dave Cox won his 300th game when the Pilgrims defeated Wawasee on Jan. 22. In 19 seasons, Cox is 302-137 including the 2008 3A state championship and a 2001 3A runner-up finish. 

Tipton senior Greg Dickey surpassed 1,000 points in his career in Tipton's win over Sheridan on Friday, Jan. 14 in boys basketball.

Sullivan boys basketball coach Jeff Moore recently won his 300th game.  The Golden Arrows defeated Bloomfield, 54-47, on Friday, Jan. 7, for the 300th win.

The Muncie Central girl’s swim team won their first NCC title in school history last Saturday at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Central won its first North Central Conference championship by scoring 439 points and outdistance runner-up Richmond by 73 points. Emmi Rawson in the 200 free and Sydney Clasby in the 100 butterfly were individual winners for the Bearcats.