Last year’s boys swim season was a successful one for Columbus schools. Columbus North sent five swimmers to the state finals, and Columbus East had what its coach called its best season in several years.
The 2018-19 season will get underway on Monday when North hosts Louisville St. Xavier. East’s boys will open Nov. 29 against Shelbyville.
Here is a look at those and other area teams going into the 2018-19 season:
Columbus North
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
The Bull Frogs are hoping to overtake Bloomington South for Conference Indiana and North Sectional titles after finishing second to the Panthers in both last season.
"We have a youthful team," North coach Logan Schaefer said. "We’re returning a lot of our scorers from our championship meets last year, and we’re looking for all those who are returning, as well as some of our underclassmen to contribute and step into roles that we need them to."
Junior Nick Green finished 21st at state in the 500-yard freestyle and swam on the 17th-place 400 freestyle relay team on his way to earning The Republic Boys Swimmer of the Year honors.
Senior Sam Russell finished 24th in the 200 individual medley. Russell and senior Jared Carroll both swam on the 15th-place 200 freestyle relay and 17th-place 400 freestyle relay teams at state. Both swim the 100 butterfly, and Carroll also swims the 100 backstroke.
"Those guys have been a part of a lot of great teams here at Columbus North, and they are ready to leave their own stamp on a championship team," Schaefer said. "They are very motivated, very committed to their teammates and serving them and getting the most they can out of them."
Other top returners include sophomore Tristen Cook in the butterfly and backstroke, sophomore Christopher Lee in the backstroke and sprint freestyle events, sophomore Aidan McAlister in the distance freestyle events. Sophomores Kyan Jiles and DeShawn Austin are the top divers.
Freshmen Matthew Goble in the distance freestyle events and David Fry in the breaststroke and possibly the 200 IM could make an immediate impact.
"I think all of those guys, newcomers included, are people for us who could score several points at the sectional meet, and I think the exciting thing about them being newcomers is, they’re going to come out and do their best that they can for their team and fill any role that we need for the team," Schaefer said.
Columbus East
The Olympians will look to improve on fifth-place finishes in the Hoosier Hills Conference and the North Sectional.
"I think the sectional is the toughest sectional in the state," East coach Dave Fribley said. "We’re trying to score as high as we can against all of the other teams that are there. But we definitely want to improve our position in the conference. We have some talented kids who could do really well in the conference."
The Olympians have 18 kids, led by senior Ryan Singer. Singer finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 IM in last year’s sectional.
Senior diver DJ Rhodes finished fifth in the sectional, missing a spot in the diving regional by less than six points. Seniors Evan Wieneke in the distance freestyle events and Zack Statler in the IM and butterfly also will be among the top swimmers.
Other returners include sophomore Chad Kelly and junior Colby Hertle in the sprint freestyle events, junior Justin Borowski and sophomore Mason Curry in distance freestyle events, junior Bryce Eckelman in the backstroke and senior Cody Miller and sophomore John Roberts in diving. Seniors Grant Files and Nathan Hatchett and junior David Neville could provide depth.
Junior Christian Davis, who practiced with the team, but could not compete last year after moving from Terre Haute, is eligible this season. Freshman Branson Young in the sprint freestyle events also will look to make an impact.
"It’s going to be a really interesting year because we have a smaller team this year than I thought we’d have," Fribley said. "The kids that are here have been working really hard. We’re looking forward to all of them helping us. These guys are really serious about getting the job done and really going after it. It’s going to be really fun to see them develop and see what happens."
Jennings County
The Panthers will have a smaller team this season with only about a dozen boys and no freshmen.
Senior Peyton Moore is a two-time HHC champion in the 50 freestyle. He is hoping to make it to state this year after finishing second in the sectional in that event last season.
Other top returners include senior Trey Hundley in the 200 IM, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle, senior Beau Harriman in the sprint freestyle events and 500 freestyle, sophomore Danny Hoffman in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, sophomore Louden Feltner in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Jennings does have a pair of senior newcomers who are athletes in other sports in Dillon Carney and Jacob Corya.
The Panthers finished sixth in the HHC and fourth in the Floyd Central Sectional last season.
"I think we are little bit better than we were last year," Jennings coach Chaz Wilson said. "We want to swim fast, drop time, have fun, compete with the other schools."
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars will have only swimmer again this season. Sophomore Ethan Myers, who was born in the area, just moved back from North Carolina.
"We’re still learning about what his strengths are," Trinity coach Doug Sabotin said. "Throughout the season, we’ll be figuring out where to put him in the sectional. He’s a great swimmer and a really good kid. It’s going to be a privilege to have him on the team."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The 2018-19 boys swimming schedules for Columbus East and Columbus North:
Columbus East
Tuesday;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.
Jan. 22;at Greensburg;6 p.m.
Jan. 26;HHC at Seymour;9 a.m.
Columbus North
Monday;Louisville St. Xavier;6:30 p.m.
Tuesday;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 Indiana University;9 a.m.
Jan. 24;Oldenburg Academy;6 p.m.
Feb. 4;at Plainfield;5:30 p.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
