Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals Preview: Penn’s Galat, Carmel’s Locke Return

Two swimmers with individual state championships to their credit return this weekend for the 39th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals.

Preliminary swimming heats will begin Friday at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT at the Indiana University Natatorium with the top 16 in each event returning Saturday for the championship and consolation finals scheduled for 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT. The state diving competition begins Saturday at 9 am ET.

Penn junior Bethany Galat is the lone defending state champion to return from last year’s state finals after winning the 200 individual medley in 2:00.38. She clocked a 2:02.64, the state’s top time in Saturday’s sectional round. She’s seeded third in the 100 breaststroke and also is expected to compete on two of the Kingsmen’s three relay teams this weekend.

Carmel’s Lacey Locke is the other returning former champion in the field. She added a pair of relay state championships a year ago to bring her total count to nine through her first three years. Now a senior, she’ll have a chance to add four more medals this weekend as she’s entered in the 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 individual medley, and the 200 backstroke, the former two of which she won in 2012.  She’s been a part of Carmel’s last three winning medley relay teams and would join three others - all Carmel swimmers  - with four consecutive medley relay titles (Ginger Faerber, 1986-89; Tricia Tyner, 1987-90; Krista Davis 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998).

Locke was the 2011 state champion in the 200 IM and is seeded second with a 2:03.87 right behind Galat. She finished fourth a year ago. She also captured the 100 backstroke crowns her freshman and sophomore seasons and is seeded second this year at 55.67 after not competing in the event a year ago.

Locke and her Greyhound teammates are positioned favorably for yet another team title.

Already the longest streak of state championships in any girls sport in the nation at 26 in a row, another title on Saturday would tie Carmel for second in the nation with Pickford (MI) High School’s boys track and field team which won 27 straight from 1952-78. Punahou High School (Honolulu, HI) won 29 straight boys swimming championships from 1958-86 and tops the national high school charts. Carmel’s current mark of 26 continues to be the longest active streak in the country regardless of sport or gender.

Breanna Robinson, a Wawasee sophomore assumed the state’s top spot in both freestyle events winning the Northridge Sectional in the 100 in 51.29 and the 200 in 1:50.76.

Two Crown Point relay teams and an individual had the state’s fastest times in the Munster Sectional last Saturday. The Bulldogs clocked a 1:35.39 in the 200 freestyle relay and a 3:28.16 in the 400 free relay.

Results will be posted throughout both days to IHSAA.org and tweeted at @IHSAA1. Saturday’s championship and consolation finals will be streamed live at IHSAAtv.org beginning at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT.

Dates
Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, 6 pm ET (Swimming prelims).
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, 9 am ET (Diving prelims and semis), 1 pm ET (Consolations and finals for all events).

Site: Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, 901 W. New York St., Indianapolis.

Admission: Unreserved tickets are $8 per session or $12 both days.

Webstream: Saturday's championship and consolation finals will be streamed live at IHSAAtv.org beginning at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT.

Advancement
The top 16 in each swimming event during Friday’s prelims will return for competition on Saturday with the top eight individuals vying for state championship honors. Those finishing nine through 16 on Friday will make up the competitors in the consolation heats. All diving will take place on Saturday with the top 20 of 32 competitors advancing from the prelims to the semis after five dives each. After three dives each in the semis, the top 16 will advance to the final round for another three dives each.

Friday Heat Sheets | Friday Psych Sheets | Diving Order

Notables

Top Seeds
200 Medley Relay: Carmel, 1:44.17.
200 Freestyle: Breanna Robinson, 10, Wawasee, 1:50.76.
200 Individual Medley: Bethany Galat, 11, Penn, 2:02.64.
50 Freestyle: Rachel Hayden, 11, North Central (Indianapolis), 23.38.
One Meter Diving: Sarah Bacon, 10, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, 486.25.
100 Butterfly: Aly Tetzloff, 10, Crown Point, 54.81.
100 Freestyle: Breanna Robinson, 10, Wawasee, 51.29.
500 Freestyle: Erin Moe, 12, Westfield, 4:56.92.
200 Freestyle Relay: Crown Point, 1:35.39.
100 Backstroke: Claire Adams, 9, Carmel, 54.95.
100 Breaststroke: Caroline Weigand, 11 Homestead, 1:02.34.
400 Freestyle Relay: Crown Point, 3:28.16.

State Championship Record Streaks
Longest streaks of consecutive state championships, all sports, all states
29: Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii, boys swimming, 1958-86.
27: Pickford, Mich., boys track and field, 1952-78.
26: Carmel, Ind., girls swimming, 1986-2012.*
26: Woonsocket Mt. St. Charles Academy, R.I., boys hockey, 1978-2003.
25: Bolles, Jacksonville, Fla. boys swimming, 1988-2012.*
25: Paulsboro, NJ, wrestling, 1983-2007.
24: St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky., boys swimming, 1989-2012.*
24: Tacoma Wilson, Wash., boys swimming, 1960-83.
*Active streak.
(Source: National Federation of State High School Associations)

Defending State Champions in Field (Individual Events)
200 Individual Medley: Bethany Galat, 11, Penn.

Other Former State Champions in Field (Individual Events)
200 Individual Medley: Lacey Locke, 12, Carmel (2011 state champion).
100 Backstroke: Lacey Locke, 12, Carmel (2010, 2011 state champion).

Career State Championships by an Individual (Individual and Relay Events)
14: Emily Ayers, Carmel, 1992-95.
11: Lindsay Benko, Elkhart Central, 1991-94.
10: Allison Bock, Lafayette Jefferson, 1987-90.
10: Debbie Daniel, Anderson, 1981-84.
10: Katie Simmons, Carmel, 1997-2000.
9: Sherry Cartwright, Ben Davis/Harrison (West Lafayette), 1978-81.
9: Susan Hentschel, North Central (Indianapolis), 2000-03.
9: Lacey Locke, Carmel, 2010-current.
9: Trish Regan, Carmel, 2008-10.
8: Taylor Baughman, Carmel, 2002-05.
8: Lindsay Carlberg, Carmel, 1995-98.
8: Ginger Faerber, Carmel, 1986-89.
8: Linda Grondziak, Ben Davis, 1977-80.
8: Heidi Hendricks, Logansport, 1984-87.
8: Michelle McKeehan, Center Grove, 2005-08.
8: Leah Retrum, Columbus North, 2000-03.
8: Tricia Tyner, Carmel, 1987-90.

State Championships Won by This Year’s Participants (Individual and Relay Events)
9: Lacey Locke, 12, Carmel.
2: Ariana Bullard, 12, Carmel.
2: Hanna House, 11, Carmel.
1: Alex Cleveland, 11, Zionsville.
1: Grace Einterz, 12, Zionsville.
1: Bethany Galat, 11, Penn.

Lacey Locke’s (Carmel) State Championships Won (2010-current)
200 Medley Relay: 2010, 2011, 2012.
200 Individual Medley: 2011.
200 Freestyle Relay: 2010, 2011.
100 Backstroke: 2010, 2011.
400 Freestyle Relay: 2012.

Media Information

Media Host: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state meet.

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, 4 pm ET. The 2012-13 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this year is good for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the girls swimming and diving state finals, please apply by e-mailing your request (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests may be claimed at the media will-call table at the concourse level of the IU Natatorium. Please have proper identification available.

Media Work Area: Working space will be available to writers and photographers in the west bleachers of the Natatorium. Results from each event will be distributed and also posted to the IHSAA.org website as the meet progresses both days. Writers and photographers also will have access to the pool deck.

Wireless Internet: The Natatorium is equipped with complimentary wifi through AT&T to those needing wireless access.

Off Limits: For safety and liability reasons, members of the media are not permitted on the moveable bulkheads that separate the pools or on any of the diving platforms. Also, due to congestion in the immediate area of the starting blocks with timers and judges, we ask that writers and photographers steer clear of that area as well. Editors and sports directors -- please share this information with those who are covering the event and might not necessarily have access to this release. Thank you for your cooperation.

Results: Results will be posted to the IHSAA.org website and tweeted at @IHSAA1 shortly after each event both days. Heat sheets for Saturday will be posted following completion of Friday’s events and complete results for both days will be available at the conclusion of Saturday’s festivities.

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State Wrestling Berths on the Line Saturday
The 75th Annual Individual Wrestling State Tournament reaches the semi-state level this Saturday, Feb. 9, at four sites. The top four finishers in each weight class will earn a spot in the state championship brackets that run Feb. 15-16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Results from Saturday’s semi-states will be posted at IHSAA.org as they become available from the host sites while state finals brackets will be available Sunday afternoon.

Semi-States
Date: Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.
Admission: $7 (Final session only); $10 (Season ticket). 
Advancement: The top four place winners in each weight class advance to the state finals.

1.    Merrillville | 8:30 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Calumet, Crown Point, Logansport, Rochester.
2.    Fort Wayne Snider (at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum) | 9 am ET
Feeder Regionals: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Goshen, Jay County, Peru.
3.    New Castle | 9 am ET
Feeder Regionals: North Montgomery, Pendleton Heights, Perry Meridian, Richmond.
4.    Evansville Reitz (at Ford Center) | 9 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Bloomington South, Castle, Jeffersonville, Mooresville.

State Finals
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.
Admission: $8 per session or $20 both days.

Friday, Feb. 15, 2013
First Round | 6 pm ET.

Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013
Quarterfinals | 9:30 am ET with semifinals to follow.
Consolations | 5 pm ET.
Finals | 7:30 pm ET.

Webcast: Saturday night’s state championship matches will be streamed live at IHSAAtv.org beginning at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT.

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 14, at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. Please note that the 2012-13 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this year will NOT allow admission to this event as a specific credential is required – no exceptions. Legitimate working news media should apply for credentials by e-mailing (with name of individual applying) IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: gmail.com, yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be left to claim by the individual at media will-call at Bankers Life Fieldhouse beginning at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT on Friday. Identification is necessary to pick up credentials.