TIGERS HONORED, COACHING CHANGE

Several Tigers were singled out for honors at last night's post-season swimming and diving banquet at Yorktown High School.

Junior Adam Voss took home the 2009-10 Most Valuable Player award for the boys. Voss posted Top 16 finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly at this season's IHSAA State Meet. Earlier in the tournament, Adam swam to the 100-yard butterfly championship at the Hamilton Southeastern Sectional. His time of 51:10 qualifies him for consideration for an All-American award from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA).

Senior Harrison Slater was named Most Improved Swimmer. Slater dropped an amazing 15 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle prelims at the Hamilton Southeastern Sectional. Way to go, Harrison!

On the girls side, sophomore Larah Beaver captured her second-straight Most Valuable Player award. Beaver was a Top 16 finisher at the IHSAA State Meet, placing 11th in the 100-yard back. Beaver won the 100-yard back championship at the Fishers Sectional in a time of 56.68. That time broke Larah's own YHS record, the sectional record previously held by Hamilton Southeastern's Aubrey Hertzler, and it qualifies Beaver for an automatic All-American award from NISCA. Beaver has also met the criteria for a Scholastic All-American award given by USA Swimming.

Senior Heather Elston is this year's Most Improved Swimmer. Elston polished off her final YHS season by relieving an ailing Beaver in the 200-yard free relay at the State Meet. Elston teamed with junior Gabby LaVoie and freshmen Jessica Extine and Caroline Grasso for a 31st place finish at State.

Three Tigers will be adding their names to the Academic All-American banner that hangs in the YHS pool. Seniors Michael Stocker, Harrison Slater and Heather Elston qualified for the designation from NISCA, which bases the award on an athlete's career accomplishments in the classroom. Nice job, Class of '10!

Wrapping up the awards, we turn to a brother-sister act. Senior Cameron Watters and sophomore Chelsea Watters were named the 2009-10 Mental Attitude Award winners for the Tigers. Head coach Brad Grieshop lauded them for their quiet, yet unwavering commitments to YHS swimming. Cam and Chelsea don't say much on the deck, they let their swimming do their talking. And all Cam did in his final season was break the YHS record in the 100-yard back.

Finally, a note of sadness from last night's banquet. Diving coach Shanan Riegle announced that she is resigning her position. Riegle has been coaching Yorktown divers since the 2001-02 season, but she told the audience that her family's time demands prevent her from focusing enough of her energies on coaching. You'll probably still see Shanan at meets from time to time, but former YHS and Ball State diver Nicole Niccum will taking the coaching reigns. Thanks, Shanan--and good luck, Nicole.

See you around the pool when the 2010-11 IHSAA season opens with the first girls' practice on October 25th.

GO TIGERS!