Carmel girls swimming cruises to 38th straight state title: 'We took care of business.'
INDIANAPOLIS -- Molly Sweeney is another example of how the Carmel girls swimming program continues its record of excellence.
The sophomore matched teammate Alex Shackell’s performance with four first-place finishes at Saturday’s IHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium.
Sweeney helped Carmel to its 38th consecutive state championship — a feat which is a national record for any school in any sport. Coach Chris Plumb’s squad ran up 433 points, beating runner-up Penn’s 212. Fishers — which had four-straight runner-up finishes — took third with 202 points, with Zionsville fourth at 170.
With four wins — in order, the 200 medley relay, 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay — the sophomore now has eight first-place medals in her career. That puts her half-way to the state record of 16 set by Claire Adams, a Carmel swimmer from 2013-16.
“I guess I’m on pace to do something really good,” the understated Sweeney said. “It’s nice being able to look up to someone like Claire. I’m blessed to be in this position, but, we’ll see.”
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Actually, Sweeney said it was a tough weekend for her. She won the 200 IM with a 1:56.38 clocking, which is .5 off her state record set as a freshman last season. Her breaststroke time of :59.47 is more than a second off the state-record time.
“(Friday’s) prelims were rough for me,” Sweeney said. “It wasn’t terrible, but not as good as I hoped. I wanted to focus on racing today and not so much the times.”
Plumb said his team, which performed without Kayla Han (who is swimming in an international meet in Doha) prepared a bit differently for the state finals.
“We didn’t taper and rest for this one as much as we have in past years,” said Plumb, who has guided Carmel to its past 18 state championships. “This year is different. With the Olympic trials coming up in June and girls trying to make national teams, we have a different plan.”
Shackell didn’t seem bothered by a different plan. She joined Sweeney in the two relays and also won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Her time in the fly of :50.25 broke her own state record of :50.57 she set in Friday’s prelims. She won the backstroke in :51.63.
Carmel’s other top individual performance came from junior Lynsey Bowen, the winner in the 200 free (1:45.47) and 500 free, where her 4:40.74 broke her own state record by over two seconds.
Bowen also joined Shackell and Sweeney (along with freshman Faith Gorey) to win the 400 free relay in 3:18.66. Senior Grace Dougherty and Kayla Barr rounded out the winning 200 medley relay (1:39.13).
Carmel’s point total was its lowest in four years at the meet.
“I never want to judge a team based on the points,” Plumb said. “It’s not fair to these girls. Everyone we brought today scored points and at the end of the day, we took care of business.”
And that business is seemingly not in danger of a downturn.
“We try to embrace it,” Sweeney said of Carmel’s amazing streak. “Coach (Plumb) says we are standing on the shoulders of giants and we try to have fun and maintain the streak.
“It’s great to be part of that tradition.”
Penn’s Lily Christianson had a fine meet, winning the 50 free in :21.72 (breaking Shackell’s state record of :21.93 set last year) as well as the 100 free (:48.45) while anchoring the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.94).
The other first place in the meet went to Fort Wayne Snider’s Amelia Rinehart, who won the diving with a 513.40 mark.
IHSAA girls swimming state finals
Team scores: 1. Carmel, 433; 2. Penn, 212; 3. Fishers, 202; 4. Zionsville, 170; 5. FW Carroll, 166; 6. Hamilton Southeastern, 127; 7. Center Grove, 120; 8. Concord, 94; 9. Franklin, 79. 10. Wawasee, 78; 11. Noblesville, 71; 12. Valparaiso, 50; 13. Greenfield-Central, 47; 14. Chesterton, 45; 15. Crown Point, 35.
Event winners
200 medley relay: Carmel, 1:39.13 (Kayla Barr, Molly Sweeney, Alex Shackell, Grace Dougherty)
200 free: Lynsey Bowen, Carmel (1:45.74)
200 IM: Molly Sweeney, Carmel (1:56.38)
50 free: Lilian Christianson, Penn (21.72)
1-meter diving: Amelia Rinehart, FW Snider (513.40)
100 fly: Alex Shackell, Carmel (50.25*)
100 free: Lilian Christianson, Penn (48.45)
500 free: Lynsey Bowen, Carmel (4:40.74*)
200 free relay: Penn (Kaia Podlin, Alayna Riggins, Molly Barnes, Lilian Christianson), 1:31.94
100 back: Alex Shackell, Carmel (51.63)
100 breast: Molly Sweeney, Carmel (59.47)
400 free relay: Carmel (Alex Shackell, Lynsey Bowen, Faith Gorey, Molly Sweeney), 3:18.66
* state record
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel girls swimming extends national record to 38 straight titles
