STATE MEET TIDBITS

Now that the ink is dry on the 2012 edition of the IHSAA State Meet, here are a few observations from an old fossil (isn't that redundant?) who no longer has skin in the game.

TALENT PEAKS AND VALLEYS

This senior class of 2012 is just bursting at the seams with talent.  Chesterton's Olivia Kabacinski, Zionsville's Zoe Mattingly, Wawasee's Brittany Robinson, Center Grove's Emma Schoettmer, Carmel's Margaret Ramsey and Alexis Bullard, and Munster's Brittany Gilbert are just SOME of the many studs who competed at their final State Meet over the weekend. 

It was obvious watching these girls compete as early as 11-12 year olds that they were going to be a special graduating class, and they pulled it off.  Throw in the likes of Yorktown's Larah Beaver, Zionsville's Lizzie Lyon, Center Grove's Kristen Nunnelly, Bloomington South's Casey Papp, Columbus North's Kristin Van Deventer, Penn's Sarah Coyne, and Homestead's Mariah Hamil, and you have TONS of talent from Indiana headed off to NCAA swimming next year.  Good luck to each one of you as you pursue your college swimming careers.

So who's the NEXT big deal?  It's the class of 2015.  The freshmen strutted their stuff over the weekend--keep in mind how difficult it is for ANYONE to advance to the State Meet, let alone score points there for your school.  Crown Point's Aly Tetzloff, Zionsville's Tait Kitchel, Wawasee's Breanna Robinson, Carmel's Alex Clarke and Peyton Mosbaugh, Mt. Vernon's (Posey) Clara Baggett, and Hamilton Southeastern's Caroline Thomas were among the 9th graders who gave the fans glimpses of the greatness to come from them over the next three years.

FANS, CLASSY AND OTHERWISE

First, the classy.  I was lucky enough to get to know some of the parents from Hamilton Southeastern over the last two weekends, and they made those otherwise dull hours in line and in the stands a LOT of fun.  I have decided to call the women the Ladies of HS-She.  They were friendly, personable, and great to be around.  Whether the topic was super towels, super swims, or the Super Bowl, we managed to solve all the world's problems. 

The unclassy?  A group of fans from a certain school in "The Region" who thought they were the only ones attending the State Meet.  They were rude, arrogant, self-centered, and behaved as if THEIR needs were the only important ones in the Natatorium.  They repeatedly violated the rule against "saving" seats (note to the IHSAA, either get rid of the stupid rules entirely, or ENFORCE the ones you have).  The meet would have been much better for those around them had the red scourge just stayed home and watch the live webcast.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU WANNA WIN!

I have been fortunate enough to witness some incredible efforts over the years--one is my own daughter's anchor performance at the 2010 Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet.  She made up an 11-yard deficit in the 400 Free Relay in the final 100 yards, and took Yorktown from 3rd place to champion that day.

The single GREATEST performance has to be former Chesterton star Kyle Whitaker's anchor swim in the 400 Free Relay at the Homestead Invitational his senior year.  The Trojans were significantly behind leader Northridge at the final exchange--all Whitaker did was swim that last 100 yards in 44 SECONDS to win the race in the final five yards!  And he did it with WATER in his goggles after the seal loosened on his entry.

But I have a NEW best-ever performance by a female athlete.  Zionsville was in 5TH PLACE heading into the final exchange in the championship heat of the 200 Free Relay Saturday afternoon.  The Eagles were .86 of a second off the lead at that point, a BIG gap in the sprints.  Well, all Michigan recruit Zoe Mattingly did was reel off an anchor split of 22.40!  That sizzling effort propelled her team to its first relay state championship in school history.  A quick review of anchor split times in the 38-year history of the State Meet indicates that Mattingly's dash to the finish on Saturday was the FASTEST EVER RECORDED in that meet.  Simply INCREDIBLE!

In the coming days, a final look back at more than a decade of Yorktown swimming, and kudos and plaudits for some of the greatest people I've ever met.

Until then, GO TIGERS!