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Carmel won the first four events of the day and eight overall, including all three relays, to run away with its 25th consecutive IHSAA state championship in girls swimming and diving at the Indiana University Natatorium.

Carmel accumulated 382 points to claim its 26th title overall (1981) and its fifth under Coach Chris Plumb. The school’s 25 consecutive state championships ties it for the nation’s fourth longest string of championships in any sport and is the longest active streak in the country.

Homestead earned its best finish ever in the state meet with the runner-up finish thanks to 230 points. Center Grove was third with 200, Chesterton was fourth with 148.5 and Columbus North placed fifth with 126.

Three state meet records fell during the meet, including two by the Greyhounds in the first two events of the day, the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle.

Lacey Locke, Samantha Shaheen, Ariana Bullard and Carly Marshall finished the relay in 1:41.42, .26 hundredths of a second quicker than the mark set two years ago by another Greyhound relay.

Carmel senior Rhiannon Sheets then followed up by blasting the oldest meet record from the books by nearly a full second. Sheets clocked a 1:47.09 in the 200 freestyle bettering the previous record of 1:48.08 set by former Olympian Lindsay Benko of Elkhart Central which had stood since 1994.

Locke and Marshall then went back to back in winning the 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle, respectively. Locke turned in a 2:00.71 and Marshall went 23.35.

Locke, just a sophomore, later defended her state championship in the 100 backstroke (54.26) and also was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay with Marshall and ended the day with four blue ribbon medals to go along with the three she won in 2010. Marshall, who was named the IHSAA mental attitude award winner, and Sheets both finished Saturday with three state championships.

Elwood’s Mary Beth Dunnichay, had the third record-setting performance of the day. The 2008 Olympian platform diver dominated the one meter springboard competition with a record 544.05 points for her 11 attempts. The previous record of 504.10 points was set in 2005 by Harrison’s (West Lafayette) Kelci Bryant. Katie Bittner, the 2009 champ from Noblesville finished third.

Lauren Jordan of Carmel and Homestead’s Tori Bagan both won their respective events for the second time in three years. Jordan won the 500 freestyle (4:47.69) while Bagan captured the 100 breaststroke (1:01.27). Defending breaststroke champion Emma Schoettmer of Center Grove finished second (1:02.28).

Julie Ogden of Lawrence North won the 100 butterfly (54.61) and Zionsville’s Zoe Mattingly captured the 100 freestyle (50.58).

The 37th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis
February 11-12, 2011

Top 10 Teams
1.    Carmel: 382
2.    Homestead: 230
3.    Center Grove: 200
4.    Chesterton: 148.5
5.    Columbus North: 126
6.    North Central (Indianapolis): 120.5
7.    Munster: 107
8.    Penn: 104
9.    Zionsville: 103
10.  Northridge: 75

State Champions
200 Medley Relay – Carmel (Lacey Locke 10, Samantha Shaheen 12, Ariana Bullard 10, Carly Marshall 12), 1:41.42. State Meet Record.
200 Freestyle – Rhiannon Sheets, 12, Carmel, 1:47.09. State Meet Record.
200 Individual Medley – Lacey Locke, 10, Carmel, 2:00.71.
50 Freestyle – Carly Marshall, 12, Carmel, 23.35.
One Meter Diving – Mary Beth Dunnichay, 12, Elwood, 544.05 points. State Meet Record.
100 Butterfly – Julie Ogden, 12, Lawrence North, 54.61.
100 Freestyle – Zoe Mattingly, 11, Zionsville, 50.58.
500 Freestyle – Lauren Jordan, 12, Carmel, 4:47.69.
200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Carly Marshall 12, Lucy Kramer 11, Rhiannon Sheets 12, Lacey Locke 10), 1:34.14.
100 Backstroke – Lacey Locke, 10, Carmel, 54.26.
100 Breaststroke – Tori Bagan, 12, Homestead, 1:01.27.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Rhiannon Sheets 12, Lauren Jordan 12, Alexis Bullard 11, Margaret Ramsey 11) 3:25.00.

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 – Carmel, Ind., girls swimming, 1986-2011.*
25 – Paulsboro, NJ, wrestling, 1983-2007.
24 – Tacoma Wilson, Wash., boys swimming, 1960-84.
23 – Bolles, Jacksonville, Fla. boys swimming, 1988-2010.*
23 – Brophy Prep, Phoenix, Ariz., boys swimming, 1988-2010.*
22 – Mt. Mt. Anthony, Bennington, Vt., wrestling, 1989-2010.*
22 – St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky., boys swimming, 1989-2010.*
22 – Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii, girls swimming, 1974-95.
*Active streak.
(Source: National Federation of State High School Associations)

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

Marshall finished her high school swimming career with three state championships today and six overall.

She served as a team captain this season, is a member of the National Honor Society, has been a Greyhound Scholar Athlete each year and is also involved in the Carmel Swim Club as an assistant coach for the 10 & Under swimmers.

She’ll continue swimming in college next fall at Purdue University where she’ll study Neurobiology and Physiology in the school’s College of Science.

She is the daughter of Rick and Barb Marshall of Carmel.

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