Columbus North junior Daniel Utterback is The Republic Boys Swimmer of the Year. He is pictured in the natatorium at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Although Daniel Utterback had qualified for the Boys Swimming State Finals in four events, he and Columbus North coach Brett Findley knew Utterback’s first event would be key to how they would perform the rest of the meet.
So after Utterback started off the preliminaries with a strong 200-yard freestyle swim, the rest of the meet fell into place for him and the rest of the Bull Frogs.
“We knew that if Daniel had a good race there to start the meet, we would have a good meet,” Findley said. “It says a lot about what Daniel means to the team. We were able to follow his lead.”
Utterback ended up making it to the consolation finals in both of his individual events and as a part of two North relay teams. The junior is this year’s The Republic Boys Swimmer of the Year.
“Before the meet, we were only seeded to make it back barely in one of them, and I was seeded 21st and 18th in my individuals, so to show what I can do was very satisfying,” Utterback said. “I am very thankful that I had a good 200 free on that Friday night, because I think that fired everybody up. We were bouncing energy off of each other.”
The next afternoon, Utterback finished 14th in the 200 freestyle. He came back with a 10th-place finish in the 100 freestyle.
“There are some swim meets where my coaches would say everything that you touch is gold,” Utterback said. “After that 200 free, I just knew I was going to do well in the 100 free. Going into the state meet, I really did not think I was going to do well. I was overcome with nervousness. But after that 200 free, I knew I was going to do well.”
Later in the state meet, Utterback helped the Bull Frogs place 11th in the 200 freestyle relay and 10th in the 400 freestyle relay.
“Those last two relays for me in a normal dual-meet setting would be more difficult for me, but in a big meet like that, with my teammates wanting to do really well, along with myself, it was easy to be successful,” Utterback said. “The team was really great with our atmosphere that we created, and team morale was really good. We all got along throughout the season, and that made it easier for me. Their support really just helped. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I did.”
This was the second consecutive year that Utterback had qualified for state in two individual events and two relays. He did not make it out of the prelims in his individual events last season.
“The goal is always to get to state, and then when we get there, show what we’re made of on the state level,” Utterback said. “The goal was to do what I did last year, along with qualifying for state finals, so I’m glad I did what I did. This year, it was really satisfying to be back on all four of my events.”
“I think as the season went, Daniel really progressed both as a leader and as an athlete,” Findley added. “He peaked at the right time, which was state. He had his best meet at state. He had to rise to the occasion, and that’s what great swimmers do. They rise to the occasion, and he did.”
This season, Utterback also won the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle at the Conference Indiana meet.
“When you get to be as fast as he is, the time drops aren’t quite as significant,” Findley said. “He won quite a few big races for us, and the times he want at the end of the year were phenomenal times and will set him up for his senior year. I know he’ll have another big year, and I would love to see him on the medals stand next year.”
A National Honor Society, Student Council, Student Assembly and Key Club member and Junior Class President, Utterback is planning to swim at the collegiate level. He is looking at Dartmouth, University of Chicago and New York University and wants to study political science and economics with plans to go to law school.
“Academics is my top priority,” Utterback said. “Academics always come before swimming, but I try to be successful in both.”
Utterback has been swimming with Franklin Regional Swim Team since he was 13. Following the high school season, he returned there to train for club meets and what he hopes will be a big high school senior season.
“Next year, the ultimate goal for myself and the team is to improve what we did this year,” Utterback said. “I want to get into ‘A’ Finals in my events, and our relays, we want to improve what we did as a team. We graduate a lot of guys this year, but with the guys we have coming up, I have no doubt we will be able to do so.”
The Republic All-Area Boys Swimming team:
Daniel Utterback, Columbus North: The junior finished 10th in the 100 freestyle, 14th in the 200 freestyle and swam on the 10th-place 400 freestyle relay and 11th-place 200 freestyle relay teams at state.
David Fry, Columbus North: The senior swam on the 10th-place 400 freestyle relay and 11th-place 200 freestyle relay teams at state.
Matthew Goble, Columbus North: The senior swam on the 10th-place 400 freestyle relay and 11th-place 200 freestyle relay teams at state.
Carlos Fabian Aguilar, Columbus North: The senior swam on the 10th-place 400 freestyle relay team at state.
Isaac Proffitt, Columbus North: The sophomore swam on the 11th-place 200 freestyle relay team at state.
Cole Wheeler, Columbus North: The senior finished second in the sectional and 11th in the regional in diving.
Pratt Badve, Columbus North: The junior finished fifth in the sectional in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
Dathan Wolf, Columbus East: The senior finished third in the sectional and 26th at state in the 100 backstroke.
Misha Machavariani, Columbus East: The freshman finished second in the 500 freestyle and third in the 100 breaststroke in the sectional.
Gavin Day, Columbus East: The freshman finished third in the sectional and 12th in the regional in diving.
Judah Nickoll, Columbus East: The sophomore finished fifth in the sectional in the 100 backstroke.
Honorable mention
Columbus East: Spencer Erfmeier, Todd Hundley, Rylan Perkins, Keaton Stephenson, Cavan Stilson. Columbus North: Jude Abdallah, Maclain Clock, Brock Smith. Jennings County: Jonathan Jones, Brock Lane, Noah McFall, Levi Marsh.
