The girls swimming season gets under way on Saturday when Columbus East visits Bloomington North. Columbus North doesn’t start until Nov. 20 at Franklin.
Both teams are looking to build on the successes they enjoyed last season. Here is a look at those and other area girls swim teams:
Columbus North
The Bull Frogs return nearly their entire team, including four of the five girls who competed at state last season.
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Junior Olivia Morlok was the Conference Indiana champion and finished 10th at state in the 500-yard freestyle, while Junior Betsy King was a state qualifier in the 100 freestyle. Both swam on North’s state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams.
“They lead the way from a performance side, lead the way from a leadership side in the pool, out of the pool,” North coach Logan Schaefer said. “They’ve had great summers. They’re excited for the season to come and are really working with our entire girls team so we can have a great performance at the state championship.”
Junior Erica Samuel and sophomore Riddhi Garg also were on the all-underclass 200 freestyle relay team, and Samuel swam the 400 freestyle relay.
Also back are junior Karlie Brown in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, senior Abbey Landini in the distance freestyle events, junior Caroline Swenson in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM and sophomore Adeline Rush in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Sophomores Paige Sherlock and Vaikhari Nalole have made big improvements in the offseason.
Freshman Paige Maddox, who could swim the 100 backstroke, 200 IM and 500 freestyle, is the top newcomer.
“They had great summers and have really got the ball rolling for our team so far this year,” Schaefer said. “It’s great to come back the following year and be in a better place than what we were last year, and that’s absolutely what happened because of the offseason.”
Sophomore Ella Anderson was a regional diving qualifier. She is joined by sophomore divers Grace Lemley and Naomy Argueta Ventura.
The Bull Frogs will look to improve on a third-place finish in the conference and a second in the North Sectional.
“Right now, with the several returners we have, we’re looking to make more of a big impact, go after a sectional title and challenge Bloomington South,” Schaefer said. “In the past few years, we’ve been right there, but I feel this year, with our returners, we will run right with them for a sectional title, as well as scoring in multiple events at state championship.”
Columbus East
The Olympians will have a big team this year with 45 girls, the most in Jill Arnholt’s 18 years (over two stints) as East’s coach.
Junior Jennifer Utterback was a sectional finalist in the 100 backstroke, and sophomore Marin Wieneke was a sectional finalist in the 100 breaststroke. Both were members of the sectional runner-up 200 medley relay team.
Other top returners include senior Quinn Phillips in the 200 freestyle and possibly the breaststroke, senior Maddy Ping in distance freestyle and the 200 IM, senior Cameron Kelly in the backstroke, sophomore Caroline Andress in sprint freestyle, junior Emie Kiser and senior Olivia Lewis in distance freestyle and senior Kyra Moffitt in the breaststroke.
The top freshmen are Ellie Proffitt, who could swim a variety of events, along with Karissa Miller in the backstroke and Maggie Johnson and Abigail Castillo in the butterfly.
“We lost some really good seniors, but I think we have a really well-rounded team,” Arnholt said. “We have a lot of newcomers, and the returning swimmers are stepping up and working really hard. I’m excited.”
The Olympians lost diving state qualifier Maggie Gregory to graduation, but have eight divers this season, led by sophomores Cloie McDonald and Emily Walker.
East finished fourth in the Hoosier Hills Conference and fifth in the North Sectional last season.
“I always want to do better in conference and sectional,” Arnholt said. “I’d like to have a winning season, and our long-term goal is to break that 400 free relay record.”
Jennings County
The Panthers endured a big loss when state diving qualifier and two-time HHC champion Hailey Brown did not return to the team for her senior year. Jennings does not have a diving coach this season.
Senior Fizzie Kirchner in the sprint freestyle events and seniors Chloe Fields and Madison Malcomb in distance freestyle are the top returners. Freshman Reagan Brown in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke and possibly other events and freshman Grace Kirchner in sprint freestyle are the top newcomers.
“We’re coming along pretty good this season,” Jennings coach Chaz Wilson said. “We have some good juniors, as well. We have some pretty good people on the team this year. Our goal is to drop time in the events that we swim and try to finish better in the conference and the sectional than what we did in the past.”
The Panthers finished seventh in the HHC and fourth in the Floyd Central Sectional.
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars will once again have just one swimmer, but that swimmer is a quality one.
Junior Rachel Sabotin finished fourth at state in the 500 freestyle and 10th in the 200 freestyle in earning her second consecutive The Republic Girls Swimmer of the Year honor. Her father, Doug Sabotin, takes over as Trinity’s coach this season.
“Trinity Lutheran has started some sports programs over, and we’ve seen those programs grow over the last three or four or five years,” Doug Sabotin said. “So we hope our swimming program will grow, as well.”
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2019 girls swimming schedules for Columbus East and Columbus North:
Columbus East
Saturday;at Bloomington North;10 a.m.
Nov. 13;at New Albany Relays; 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 20;Shelbyville;6 p.m.
Dec. 4;at Columbus North;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 6;Jennings County;6 p.m.
Dec. 8;at Shelbyville Relays;1 p.m.
Dec. 15;at New Albany;1 p.m.
Jan. 3;Bedford North Lawrence;6 p.m.
Jan. 5;at Bloomington North Diving Invitational;9 a.m.
Jan. 8;Madison;6 p.m.
Jan. 12;HHC at Floyd Central;1 p.m.
Jan. 17;at Seymour;6 p.m.
Jan. 19;at Jeffersonville;11 a.m.
Columbus North
Nov. 20;at Franklin;5:30 p.m.
Nov. 24;North Central;10 a.m.
Nov. 29;Seymour;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 1;at Center Grove;10 a.m.
Dec. 4;Columbus East;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 8;Columbus North Relays;9 a.m.
Dec. 15;Christmas Classic at IUPUI;8 a.m.
Jan. 3;at Bloomington North;6 p.m.
Jan. 5;at Bloomington North Diving Invitational;9 a.m.
Jan. 10;at Franklin Central;6 p.m.
Jan. 19;Conference Indiana at TBA;9 a.m.
Jan. 24;Oldenburg Academy;6 p.m.
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