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WHITAKER, TWO OTHER RETURNING CHAMPS HEADLINE BOYS SWIMMING FINALS
Three individuals, including Chesterton star Kyle Whitaker, return for this weekend’s 73rd Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Ninety-five schools are represented in this year’s meet including Chesterton, the two-time defending state champion.

With Whitaker, the Trojans figure to be in contention once again. The senior has already written plenty of history in his first three years in the pool and more is likely to occur this Saturday.

Whitaker will be looking to become the first individual in state finals history to win the 200 individual medley all four years. He set the national record in last year’s finals (1:45.25) and, as expected, enters as the top seed this year at 1:49.13, more than four seconds faster than the next-best time.

He’s also the top seed in the 500 freestyle (4:33.50), an event he has not won previously at this meet. He’s more than two seconds better than anyone else heading into Friday night. Whitaker had won the last three butterfly crowns but is not entered in the event in 2010.

Whitaker has already won nine state titles during his career including relays and only two individuals -- Carmel’s Jason Lancaster and Grant Wieczorek – have achieved more in state history. Lancaster won 12 from 1991 to 1994 while Wieczorek won 11 from 2001 to 2004. Whitaker’s six individual crowns ranks second only to Lancaster’s seven so Whitaker could topple that mark on Saturday as well.

Chesterton junior Tyler Fozkos is the defending state champ in the 50 freestyle and sits sixth (21.44), one full second behind top seed Kameron Chastain of Seymour. Chastain also has the top time in the 100 breaststroke (56.20).

Hamilton Southeastern senior Nathan Kinney, last year’s winner in both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, returns in both events. Kinney starts second in the freestyle (46.75) and sixth in the back (52.41).

Preliminary swimming heats get underway Friday night at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT. The top 16 in each event will return for competition on Saturday with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors. Those finishing ninth through 16th on Friday will make up the competitors in the consolation heats. All diving will take place on Saturday beginning at 9 am ET / 8 am CT 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. All championship and consolation finals, including diving, will commence at 1:05 pm ET / 12:05 pm CT on Saturday.

State Finals
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, 6 pm ET (Swimming prelims). Doors open at 4 pm ET.
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, 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.

State Finals Heat Sheets | Psych Sheets | Diving Order

Former State Champions in Field (Individual Events)
200 Individual Medley – Kyle Whitaker, 12, Chesterton, 2007, 2008, 2009.
50 Freestyle – Tyler Fozkos, 11, Chesterton, 2009.
100 Freestyle – Nathan Kinney, 12, Hamilton Southeastern, 2009.
100 Backstroke – Nathan Kinney, 12, Hamilton Southeastern, 2009.

Top Seeds
200 Medley Relay – Munster, 1:35.04.
200 Freestyle – Matt Gerth, 11, Carmel, 1:40.68.
200 IM – Kyle Whitaker, 12, Chesterton, 1:49.13.
50 Freestyle – Kameron Chastain, 12, Seymour, 20.44.
One Meter Diving – Darian Schmidt, 12, Bloomington South, 561.50.
100 Butterfly – Kevin Behrens, 11, Munster, 50.04.
100 Freestyle – Harrison Wagner, 11, Brebeuf Jesuit, 46.66.
500 Freestyle – Kyle Whitaker, 12, Chesterton, 4:33.50.
200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel, 1:26.21.
100 Backstroke – Justin Rossillo, 11, Hamilton Southeastern, 51.42.
100 Breaststroke – Kameron Chastain, 12, Seymour, 56.20.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel, 3:08.14.

Media Information

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

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 25, 4 pm ET. The 2009-10 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this school year is accepted for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the boys swimming and diving state finals, please apply for credentials by e-mailing (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. Please be advised that pool phones will NOT be available for post-meet filing purposes though free wireless internet access will be available in the building (See 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 www.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.

Schedule of Events
Times are approximate
Friday
5:30 p.m. -- Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. -- 200 Medley Relay
6:16 p.m. -- 200 Freestyle
6:32 p.m. -- 200 Individual Medley
6:50 p.m. -- 50 Freestyle
15 MINUTE BREAK
7:14 p.m. -- 100 Butterfly
7:26 p.m. -- 100 Freestyle
7:38 p.m. -- 500 Freestyle
8:08 p.m. -- 200 Freestyle Relay
8:23 p.m. -- 100 Backstroke
8:35 p.m. -- 100 Breaststroke
8:48 p.m. -- 400 Freestyle Relay
Saturday
9:00 a.m. -- Diving Preliminaries (5 dives) & Semi-Finals (3 dives)
12:45 p.m. -- Opening Ceremonies
1:05 p.m. -- Finals and Consolation Finals

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TEAM WRESTLING STATE FINALS ON SATURDAY
One week after the best individuals were decided, the best team of the season will be determined this Saturday in the 15th Annual IHSAA Team Wrestling State Finals at Center Grove High School on Saturday.

Five of the eight teams are ranked in the top 10 of the final state coaches poll including top-ranked Mishawaka and No. 2 Crown Point, the defending champion, who square off in the opening round. The other quarterfinal matches include No. 3 Perry Meridian, last year’s runner-up against No. 12 Indianapolis Cathedral, No. 4 Yorktown goes up against No. 17 Roncalli and No. 7 Castle faces unranked Harrison (West Lafayette).

In regular season meetings, Perry Meridian edged Indianapolis Cathedral, 33-29, on Jan. 13 and Mishawaka topped Crown Point, 42-17, on Dec. 12.

Four wrestlers who won a state championship and six more who finished as a runner-up will be among those on the mats in Greenwood.

Mishawaka, making its 11th straight appearance and competing its second state championship in three seasons, had 10 entries in last week’s state finals, the most of any team. The Cavemen had a pair of runner-up finishers in 112 pound senior Paul Beck and 215 senior Christian Lentz. Travis Thomas finished third at 285.

Crown Point, making its second straight trip to state, has three champions on its roster, including two that won last Saturday. Sophomore Jason Tsirtsis won at 130 last week and was the 125 winner in 2009. Junior Eric Roach won the 145 pound class and senior Anthony Hawkins, who finished fifth at 119, was the 2009 champ at 112.

Eight wrestlers who participated last week have helped Yorktown back to the team finals for the third time and its first appearance since 2001. Heavyweight Ross Janney is undefeated this year, while Devon Jackson’s only loss this season came to Tsirtsis in the 130 pound final. Derek Bevans placed third at 125.

Castle, making its second straight trip, is led by Doug Welch, the 145 runner-up and Chad Welch, the third place finisher at 152.

Perry Meridian finds itself at Center Grove for the fifth year in a row and had Jared McKinley (112) and Kirk Johnson (140) both place fourth on Saturday.

Tyler Willis was the 160 pound state runner-up for Indianapolis Cathedral, which makes its fourth team appearance at state in five seasons. Roncalli is led by Josh Kieffer and Justin Kieffer, both of whom finished fourth at 119 and 125, respectively. Harrison of West Lafayette had four entries in the individual state finals, including Cameron Vlahos, the fourth place finisher at 160.

State Finals
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.
Site: Center Grove High School, 2717 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood | Website
Time: Quarterfinals begin at 10 am ET with semifinal round and championship round to follow.
Admission: $8.
Advancement: This is a single elimination tournament in which the winning team shall advance to the next round.

Meet the Teams

Quarterfinals, 10 am ET
Match 1: Harrison (West Lafayette) (30-12) vs. Castle (21-3).
Match 2: Roncalli (14-3) vs. Yorktown (32-1).
Match 3: Perry Meridian (25-1) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (21-5).
Match 4: Crown Point (18-1) vs. Mishawaka (28-0).
Semifinals, approximately 12 pm ET
Match 5: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.
Match 6: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4.
Championship, approximately 2:30 pm ET
Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6.

State Champions in the Field (4)
119 – Anthony Hawkins, 12, Crown Point, 2009 champ at 112.
130 – Jason Tsirtsis, 10, Crown Point, 2010; also 2009 champ at 125.
145 – Eric Roach, 11, Crown Point, 2010; also 2008 runner-up at 130.
285 – Ross Janney, 12, Yorktown, 2010.

State Runners-Up in the Field
112 – Paul Beck, 12, Mishawaka, 2010.
119 – Josh Kieffer, 11, Roncalli, 2009 runner-up at 112.
130 – Devon Jackson, 10, Yorktown, 2010.
145 – Doug Welch, 11, Castle, 2010.
160 – Tyler Willis, 10, Indianapolis Cathedral, 2010.
215 – Christian Lentz, 12, Mishawaka, 2010; also 2009 runner-up at 215.

Media Information

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 25, 4 pm ET. The 2009-10 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this school year is accepted for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the boys swimming and diving state finals, please apply for credentials by e-mailing (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 Door 6 on the south side of the school. Please have proper identification available.

Media Work Area: Work space in each corner of the balcony level of the gymnasium will be available for use by credentialed media. There will be a single room off the northwest corner of the gym floor where media may send their stories and/or photographs using the available telephone lines.

Results: Results from each level of the meet -- quarterfinals, semifinals and finals -- will be posted to the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org.

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

Due to space limitations: Due to space limitations on the gymnasium floor, the tournament administration has asked that the media please work from the bleacher or balcony area and to avoid the floor until after the completion of the first round of matches. During the semifinals and championship round, writers and photographers are welcome to work closer to the action on the floor. Thank you for your cooperation.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE ACTION ON SATURDAY
Sixteen teams will battle for the right to play for a state championship this Saturday as the 35th Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament rolls on to the semi-state round. Each of the four sites will host a doubleheader.

Two of last year’s state champs are in position to get back to the state finals to defend their crowns.

Class 4A Ben Davis (26-0) could tie the state record for consecutive victories with a win over Floyd Central (25-1) in the second game at Southport. The Giants won all 30 games last season and a victory on Saturday night would equal the mark of 57 set by Fort Wayne Northrop (1985-87).

Fort Wayne Canterbury (23-2), the two-time defending Class A champion, will have a shot at a third straight title if it can get by Turkey Run (20-5) at the Wasaw Semi-State. Vincennes Rivet (25-0), which fell to Canterbury in last year’s title game, is attempting to get back to the state championship game but will have to fend off Waldron (22-3) at Bedford North Lawrence.

Rushville (24-2) will try to end the longest semi-state championship drought this weekend when it takes on Evansville Memorial (23-3) in Class 3A action at Bedford North Lawrence. The Lions last played in the state finals in 1993 falling in the afternoon semifinal game.

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (17-7), which takes on Winamac (19-6) in 2A action at Warsaw, will look to win a state-best seventh semi-state crown. The Knights have also won a state record five championships, the last coming in 2006 in Class 3A.

Scores from each game will be posted to the IHSAA website as they become available on Saturday.

Girls Basketball Semi-States
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.
Admission: $7.
Home Team: The winners of the even-numbered regionals will be the designated home teams (teams listed second below).

Brackets: 4A | 3A | 2A | A

North
1. Elkhart Central (Northside Gym)
Class 3A | Griffith (19-5) vs. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (22-3). 1 pm ET
Class 4A | Merrillville (24-1) vs. Fort Wayne Snider (16-7). To follow

2. Warsaw Community
Class A | Fort Wayne Canterbury (23-2) vs. Turkey Run (20-5). 4 pm ET
Class 2A | Winamac (19-6) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (17-7). To follow

South
3. Southport
Class 2A | Winchester (25-0) vs. Austin (24-2). 4 pm ET
Class 4A | Ben Davis (26-0) vs. Floyd Central (25-1). To follow

4. Bedford North Lawrence
Class A | Waldron (22-3) vs. Vincennes Rivet (25-0). 1 pm ET
Class 3A | Rushville (24-2) vs. Evansville Memorial (23-3). To follow

State Finals
Date: Saturday, March 6, 2010.
Site: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne | Website | Directions & Parking
Admission: Session $15.00; Season $25.00.
Reserved single session tickets may be purchased at the participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact participating schools for ticket distribution hours. Any remaining tickets may be purchased on game day at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Season tickets may be ordered through the IHSAA e-store.
Home Team: The winners of the north semi-states will be the designated home teams.

Session I, 10:30 am ET
Session II, 6 pm ET

Notables

Looking for First Semi-State Title (8 of 16)
4A – Floyd Central, Merrillville.
3A – Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Griffith.
2A – Winamac, Winchester.
A – Turkey Run, Waldron.

Looking to Break Semi-State Championship Drought (Five or More Years)
17: Rushville (1993).
11: Austin (1999).
9: Fort Wayne Snider (2001).

Most Consecutive Semi-State Championships
4 by Noblesville (1987-90); 4 by Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (1999-2002); 4 by Heritage Christian (2006-09); 4 by South Bend Washington (2006-09).

Top 10 All-Time Semi-State Championship Leaders
6: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.
5: Heritage Christian, Kokomo, Valparaiso.
4: Bedford North Lawrence, Ben Davis, Columbus East, Crown Point, Noblesville, Shenandoah, South Bend Washington, Warsaw.

2008 State Champions Still Alive
4A: Ben Davis.
A: Fort Wayne Canterbury.

2008 State Finals Teams Still Alive
4A: Ben Davis.
A: Fort Wayne Canterbury, Vincennes Rivet.

Former State Champions Still Alive
4A: Ben Davis (2000, 2001, 2009), Fort Wayne Snider (1988).
3A: None.
2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (1999 (2A), 2000 (2A), 2001 (2A), 2002 (3A), 2006 (3A)).
A: Fort Wayne Canterbury (2008, 2009).

First-Time Regional Champions
4A: Floyd Central, Merrillville.
3A: None.
2A: Winchester.
A: Turkey Run, Waldron.

Regional Championship Drought Breakers (Five or more years)
17: Winamac (1993).
10: Griffith (2000).
9: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne Snider (2001).

Repeat Regional Champions
4A: Ben Davis.
3A: None.
2A: Austin.
A: Fort Wayne Canterbury, Vincennes Rivet.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS MEDIA CREDENTIALS
The deadline for requests is Thursday, March 4, 4 pm ET. Credentials will not be granted after that time. For media outlets intending to cover the girls basketball state finals, please apply for credentials by e-mailing your request 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. Please include the name of individual(s) to be credentialed. Approved requests will be available for pickup at media will-call on game day. Credentials will not be mailed.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS INTERVIEWS MONDAY IN FORT WAYNE
Coaches from the eight schools in the 2010 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals will gather Monday, March 1, at the Allen County War Memorial Stadium in Fort Wayne for the pre-tournament administrative meeting with media interviews to follow. The administrative meeting, which begins at 12 pm ET will be closed to the news media with interviews to follow in a round-table setting at approximately 1:15 pm ET. Parking will be available in the main lot off Coliseum Boulevard/Hwy. 930. Use the Main Entrance from the parking lot and ushers will provide direction to the meeting room.

Updated statistics, rosters and other team information as submitted by the schools will be distributed at the interview session. For outlets that cannot attend, a special state finals information package will be available on the IHSAA website late that day.

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STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS

ATTENTION BASKETBALL COACHES / STATISTICIANS
Please be sure to report your final statistics of the season at DigitalSports.com upon your team’s elimination from the state tournaments so that your players will continue to appear in the weekly state leaders listings through the end of the state finals. The last compilation will follow the Tuesday after each sport’s state finals.

Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders | Boys Basketball Statistical 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 for consideration.

Following a victory over North Central of Indianapolis last Friday Center Grove boys basketball coach Cliff Hawkins earned his 400th career win. He earned No. 401 on Tuesday when the Trojans defeated Warren Central to win the school’s first outright Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference championship and second overall.

Carolyn Lee Johnson, 68, longtime athletic director at Eastern Hancock, passed away Wednesday, February 10, at her residence of rural Greenfield, Indiana. She had retired from the school system after thirty-five years of service as a teacher, coach, and athletic director.

Wes Rigney of Caston surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career during the Comets Feb. 6 game against Wabash. Rigney became the seventh player in school history to reach the milestone.

Wabash senior Brooklyn Short recently passed the 1,500 career point mark to become the girls all-time leading scorer in school and county history.

Taylor guard Shelby Wall ended her terrific high school career this week.  The University of Indianapolis recruit scored 29 points in her finale, pushing her career total to 1,578, a school record, which ranks No. 2 in Howard County girl’s history behind former Kokomo standout Tiffany Longworth’s 1,936.

From Fox 28 in South Bend: Warsaw based ML Motorsports has embraced Hoosier Hysteria and the hype around the Northern Lakes Conference Champion Tigers. The NASCAR Nationwide Team is racing in Las Vegas this weekend against Danica Patrick. On the trunk of the No. 70 car driven by Shelby Howard will be the words, "GO WARSAW! Win State". Crew member Jeremy Marsh used to play for the Tigers and is a huge fan. He and the rest of the folks at ML will be watching next week as Warsaw plays in the Sectional.