Wednesday, February 1, 2012

SECTIONAL PREVIEW: FISHERS FAVORITES, YHS & HSE LURKING

The field at the Fishers Sectional has shrunk to just nine schools over the years. But don’t let that fool you--nearly half of those teams are ranked in the state’s Top 40 squads in one of the most powerful and even Sectionals in Indiana.

#17 Fishers, #21 Yorktown, #23 Hamilton Southeastern, and #33 Pendleton Heights are the cream of the crop in this year’s field. The host Tigers are the defending champions. They won last year’s Hamilton Southeastern Sectional by an even 100 points over runner-up and crosstown rival HSE, with Yorktown a distant third. But that was then, this is now.

THIS year’s competition looks to be much closer. Fishers will still be the prohibitive favorite, but the Tigers will have to make up for the loss of sophomore Katie Lemen, who now swims for #1 Carmel. Lemen accounted for 45 of Fishers’ points a year ago, swimming on the champion 200 Medley Relay and 200 Free Relay teams, winning the 200 Free, and finishing 2nd in the 100 Free.

Lemen’s transfer did significant damage to the Fishers lineup. But the Tigers may have just what they need to compensate for her loss. Freshman Emily Moser is one of the most talented athletes in the entire field--she wowed the fans with a 5:05 in the 500 Free earlier this season at the Westfield Invitational. Moser is one of a small group of swimmers in the field who have posted a time faster than the IHSAA state cuts this season. She’s a legitimate threat to be a Sectional champion in any race she enters this weekend.

Where does that leave the rest of the field? Well, it AIN’T chopped liver, friends. HSE has its own talented freshman in Caroline Thomas, who is capable of beating the field in any event in the competition. The Royals also have impressive depth, and bring back strong relays again in 2012--they joined FHS and YHS with state cut performances in 2011. They could very well win any relay in the Sectional, maybe all three.

Yorktown is poised to have its best finish since the 2006 squad (the one that went on to be State Runner-up that year). The meet's “OTHER” Tigers are loaded--Larah Beaver is the defending champion in the 100 Free and 100 Back; Jessica Extine is the defending champ in the 50 Free; both of the YHS 200 relays finished 2nd in 2011, and they are both stronger than a year ago. Don’t be surprised if the green and white Tigers bring home blue ribbons in BOTH of the shorter relays. The YHS records could also be in jeopardy.

IF they can do that, Yorktown takes the first of the several steps they’ll need to seriously threaten Fishers for the team championship. Here’s what else they’ll need--Beaver will have to defend both of her individual titles. Extine will have to win the 50 Free again, and DOUBLE with a victory in the 100 Breast. Freshman phenom Lauren Elston will have to win at least one individual title (she’s right there in the 100 Fly).

Then the depth will have to kick in--Caroline Grasso finished 2nd to Beaver in the 100 Back last year. We’ll need that again. A 1-2 finish is almost like winning a relay. Freshman Bailey Windell has come on like a fireball late this season--she’s capable of making it back in the ‘A’ final in her events, and scoring critical points. Fellow 9th graders Katie Keller and Katelyn Grasso should also score well.

Junior Kersea Gable could be extremely valuable in the 100 Breast and on the relays. Same goes for junior Ashley Sexton--she’s capable of posting strong finishes in the sprint freestyles, and we’ll need strong relay legs from her. The girls on the 400 Free Relay will be called on to put up their best times of the season to pitch in. Gotta be in the top three there, ladies.

Senior co-captains Kirsten Nickoli and Chelsea Watters should provide important points in their swims. And then there’s diving--an event Fishers and HSE have owned in recent years. Yorktown must get quality performances from both Sam Mahon and Ellie Smith for the YHS Tigers to have a realistic shot at the overall team championship.

Yorktown has NEVER won a Sectional championship in swimming and diving. If the Tigers can maximize the number of athletes who make it through Thursday’s prelims to Saturday’s finals, they will have given themselves the CHANCE to take their shot. It really is ALL about Thursday.

My personal prediction? If the stars align and most (if not all) of the above become reality, Yorktown just might be able to pull it off. I’ll never bet against them. Time to SHOCK THE WORLD!

Be loud, be proud, NO LIMITS!

GO TIGERS!

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