Not many athletes, regardless of their sport can say they’ve been to the state finals each year of their high school career. However, Crawfordsville’s Alyx Bannon can say she’s done just that.
Bannon saved her best season for last. She went undefeated in the 100 freestyle and was the leader for a Crawfordsville team that featured eight freshman. Despite having that many new faces to a team, Crawfordsville still placed second as a team at the sectional.
The fairly young Athenian team had a ton of talent, but they needed a leader and Bannon was called upon to be that for Crawfordsville. Not only did she lead by example in the pool with her success, but she led in practices and showed the rest of team what it takes to swim at a high level.
“It’s been really fun to see her progression and maturity over the years,” Crawfordsville coach Kevin Hedrick said. “Her swimming IQ has grown. The girls have looked up to her this year and I think that’s just another one of Alyx’s strengths and compliments. It’s just an overall testament to her to think about more than just her individual success and that’s something we’ve talked about with her these last four years.”
Couple the team success along with her dominance in the pool and it’s only fitting that Bannon is the 2022 Journal Review Girls Swimmer of the Year.
Being able to end each of her seasons and career at the IUPUI Natatorium is something Bannon hasn’t taken lightly. While each year has been a little different whether that be competing as an individual or as the case was this year being able to enjoy the experience with freshman teammate Sophia Melevage, each year has shown Bannon something different.
“My first two years we were a really strong team,” Bannon said of the state finals experience her freshman and sophomore seasons. “Last year we didn’t have many girls on the team and now this past year it was a lot of young girls. Being on this team has taught me something different each year. I really enjoyed this year getting to show our team the excitement of sectionals and even getting to state with Sophia. With us the goal is always to end up at state and I was glad I was able to share that with someone again this year.”
Bannon has been a multi-sport athlete at Crawfordsville, playing volleyball and other sports, but found her calling in the pool.
“Swimming has taught me that you can’t take anything for granted,” she said. “As hard as this sport is and the agony that we go through sometimes, you have to appreciate it. This sport can drain more out of you than anything I’ve ever done and it’s taught me more than any other sport that I’ve played.”
Bannon, along with Melevage, were the top two swimmers for the Athenians all season. The duo formed a special bond this season.
Bannon knows the program is being left in good hands with Melevage leading the way the next three years.
“I see a lot of myself in Sophia,” Bannon said. “My freshman year I was talented but timid and a little bit scared. I loved showing her that her freshman year is just the beginning of it and how far that I’ve come, and I think she can do just as I did.”
Anytime the Athenians went into a meet Hedrick knew he could count on Bannon to come away with a victory in the 100 and potentially more. Not only did Bannon swim the 100, she would swim whatever was needed in order for the team to have the best chance of success.
“It’s just one of those things to where you hope to have someone like that’s willing to do whatever you ask,” Hedrick said. “We’ve needed her most nights in the 50 and the 100, but there’s been times where she’s swam other events and she didn’t bat an eye. That’s what you really have to show the younger kids. Alyx has been a real blessing for us.”
Being able to go undefeated in her senior season in the 100 is just another accolade that Bannon can add to what was an incredible senior season.
“I think swimming in the 100 shows how strong of a swimmer you really are,” Bannon said. “It’s definitely special to say that I didn’t lose a race in the 100. Once that number started to really grow I knew that I had to hold onto it and that’s when it became real serious for me.”
Bannon has left a strong legacy with the Crawfordsville swimming team. Her leadership and dominance in the pool will be something that will certainly be missed.
