January is the busiest month of the season for our county swim teams. The first big meet of the month is set for Saturday as all eight teams in the Sagamore Conference will converge on Crawfordsville High School for the SAC Meet. All three county teams now know how the events are shaping up after Thursday’s prelims were held. As it was at the county meet the girls race is expected to be a tight one with both Crawfordsville and North Montgomery competing for the SAC title along with Danville. The boys side of things will once again be a battle between the defending SAC champion Athenians and the Lebanon Tigers.
Crawfordsville will have the like of Sophia Melevage who is seeded first in the 200 freestyle, Guinevere Schmitzer-Torbert first in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, and Marie Hesler first in the 500 freestyle. The Charger girls will bring back all 24 of their swimmers whether that be in the consolations or finals. Kylie Sankey is seeded second in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, Dusty Robinson third in the 200 IM, and first in the 100 back with Katelyn Woolwine seeded sixth. Annabel Anderson is right behind Schmitzer-Torbert in the 50 free as just .20 seconds separates the two while also being seeded second in the 100 free. Brooklyn Kearns is third while Kate Merica is fourth in the 100 butterfly. Kearns is also third in the 100 breast and Woolwine fifth.
“I’m beyond overjoyed that we get to have all 24 girls back on Saturday,” Charger coach Erin Yeager said. “I don’t think that’s ever happened and I couldn’t be more ecstatic for each and every one of them. Several of these girls voiced themselves how excited they are to put themselves in a position to compete for a conference title. They’re beginning to see what I’ve been seeing all year long and it’s not just the physical but the mental side of things too. I can hoot and holler all I want but it’s up to them to decide what they need to do in the water.”
Cville coach Kevin Hedrick has seen the depth of his girls team grow this season and now he notes how they’ve put themselves in the conversation to even talk about a SAC title.
“We’re about as deep as we have been the last few years,” he said. “It’s a breath of fresh air that we can be in the position we’re in right now. We’re going to be close but I know they’re going to go out there on Saturday and embrace the challenge that lies ahead. “
On the boys side of things, the Athenians will have Whitman Horton seeded first in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Campbell Mason and Ryan Miller are both seeded third and fifth respectively in the 200 IM. Daniel Surface and Jayden Callejas are sixth and eighth in the 50 free, Adrian Median third in the 100 free, Mason is also second in the 500 freestyle, while Miller and Henry Hoar are third and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.
Southmont’s Clay Allen is seeded sixth in the 100 butterfly.
“Our youngsters to me were the stars of the show in the prelims,” Hedrick added. “You expect the upperclassmen to come in do their job but you never know what some of those younger kids will do. Henry Hoar absolutely lit it up and his hard work is starting to pay off.”
The Mounties come in as a young team on both sides and are using this meet as another chance to get big meet experience according to South coach Dan McCormick.
“I just told them coming into the prelims to go out and swim your best race and we did that,” McCormick said. “About 90% of our swims were just that and another thing I try and tell them is what can we learn and take away from a big meet like this. For both teams it’s about finishing Saturday strong whether they’re swimming in the consolations or finals, as long as they swim well then that’s all us coaches are focused on.”
The SAC Meet is slated to get underway at 1:30 at CHS as a pair of conference champions will be crowned.
