Swimming season is in full swing for Madison County as the winter months approach. Local coaches weigh in about their hopes for the season.
Anderson
This year, it’ll be up to the seniors to kick this team into third gear, according to head coach Jeff Eddy.
“We are very evenly spread out throughout the grades,” he said. “It’ll provide balance, but I’m looking at my seniors to provide the leadership it needs.”
Seth Morris and Jordan Eddy look to command in distance swimming, while Matt Gray and Steve Harmon will set the pace for sprinting. Gray, who missed qualifying for state by milliseconds last year, will be a key factor to this team because of his leadership and experience.
Eddy is also pleased with his freshmen class. He simply can’t wait to see where the wind takes them.
“It will be fun to watch them grow throughout the year,” Eddy said. “We might not see it early, but hopefully towards sectionals, it’ll start to show.”
Pendleton Heights
The numbers are up for the Arabians and head coach Jeff Maydak is ecstatic, to say the least.
“We have had bad numbers the last four or five years and it’s really hurt us,” he said. “But our numbers are good this year, we have a good group of freshman and we’re looking to make a big jump this year.”
In seasons past, the Arabians’ limited numbers have caused the team to focus on just the value of individual performances, and that is a big thing Maydak hopes to change this year.
“We need to put more emphasis on team victories and being competitive,” he said. “We are looking to finally break that 500 barrier.”
Junior Jacob Childress, who is ranked 16th in the state for backstroke and missed a state qualification by 100th of a second last year, will be a primary contender. Maydak hopes his bitterness towards his finale will spur a hunger for better results this year.
A noteworthy newcomer, Austin Parrish, is going to be helpful in all aspects and will fill every needed area. He is a well-rounded swimmer, according to Maydak.
Logan Kisinger and Josh Collier also will be swimmers to watch for as they make their big debut as Arabians.
Elwood
Head coach Tammy Douglas knows her team has potential state qualifiers.
Senior Collin Settig has come close to breaking school records and will be a jetsetter for the Panthers. He has a big chance to outdo his previous standings and make state this year, according to Douglas.
Likewise, senior Taylor Settig has already broken several school records in the 50-meter freestyle and should be a shoo-in for state.
And although her team is still small, there are some diamonds hiding somewhere in between.
Alexandria
Head coach Jamie Haase said this year will be more about competition than experience.
After graduating five seniors, his team looks a little thin. However, he has two potential competitors: senior Zach Powers and junior Jacob King.
Powers, who is a sprint freestyler, has a serious shot at state.
“Man, he can swim,” said Haase. “If anyone has a chance at state, it would be him.”
King, who is both a diver and distant swimmer, will use his versatility to dominate.
Haase is still unsure about the newcomers, but it’s too early to tell where they will all fit in. He realizes they’ll find a place eventually.
Highland
His team, although young, is extremely hardworking and dedicated, according to head coach Dave Renz. “These boys have a lot of background,” he said. “Most of them swam club when they were younger and are a very good group of kids.”
Highland’s biggest returnee, sophomore Kyle Johnson, is expected to be an even bigger smash than his debut season. Johnson, who placed at State in his 200-meter freestyle, has worked even harder in the off-season for a repeat performance.
“He is a kid that works hard year-round,” Renz said. “He is in the water 10 months out of the year. When he isn’t swimming, he is just doing something else to make him better.”
Other returnees include senior Lew Brown, who will be the team’s dominant backstroker. Junior Blake Morgan will command the 500 freestyle and sophomore Jake Fugee will be a strong distant swimmer. Newcomer Jason Cramer is another freestyler, but will specialize in primarily sprints.
High School Sports
Boys swim teams have gaps to fill in the water
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Bearcats upend AHS
Often basketball is a simple game, and it was certainly true for the Anderson boys basketball team here Thursday night. “We had too many turnovers — that’s the game,” said AHS coach Joe Nadaline after the Indians lost to Muncie Central 54-46 for their eighth straight defeat.
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Bulldogs topple Raiders, win 9th in a row
The Bulldogs keep on rolling. Lapel (16-3) led from start to finish as it beat visiting Shenandoah 69-47 Thursday night to push its winning streak to nine games.
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PHHS shoots down Fishers
It can be easy to take Kellen Dunham for granted. But the Pendleton Heights senior reminded everyone why he is a Mr. Basketball candidate with a furious fourth quarter Thursday night against Fishers. Dunham scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the final eight minutes, connected on all 10 of his free-throw attempts during the period and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the frame that sent the fifth-ranked Arabians on their way to a 53-42 victory.
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Frankton subdues Liberty
Youth was on display Thursday night in Frankton as the host Eagles squared off against the Liberty Christian Lions boys basketball team. Neither team had a senior start the game, and Frankton proved to be the more seasoned team in a 68-59 win.
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Indians fall to Bearcats 54-46
Photos from Anderson as the Indians hosted the Muncie Central Bearcats.
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Five for fighting
Like other coaches, Alexandria wrestling coach Jack Grimaldi sometimes has to worry about how to motivate his charges as they head into their matches. That shouldn’t be an issue for him with his five Tigers heading into Saturday’s individual semistate at New Castle.
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Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
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Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
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Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
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