HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING 101

For those of you who are new to high school swimming here in Indiana, let's go over how a meet is scored.

There are 12 events in a meet--eight individual swimming events, three swimming relays, and diving. The individual events are scored on the following basis: 1st place-6 points, 2nd place-4 points, 3rd place-3 points, 4th place-2 points, and 5th place-1 point. That's why a seemingly insignificant race for 5th and 6th place at the end of an event can be CRITICAL to the outcome of a meet. A two-point swing is on the line every time that happens. Cheer hard for those kids!

The relays are worth more. They are scored on the following basis: 1st place-8 points, 2nd place-4 points, and 3rd place-2 points. Keep in mind that a school may only score with TWO of its relay teams in an event. That means if Yorktown finishes 1-2-3 in the 200 Medley Relay, we only get credit for 12 points. Our opponent's best finishing relay team would get the two 3rd place points; our opponent wouldn't score if they didn't have a team entered in that event.

There are a maximum number of 186 points scored in a dual meet. That makes 94 the magic number. Once the Tigers reach 94 points, they have clinched victory. And yes, there are meets that end tied 93-93!

Let's hope YHS gets a LOT more than 94 tomorrow night at Lawrence North.

GO TIGERS!