Bremen Wins Warsaw Sectional Swim Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
To say swim coaches are animated at meets during the regular season is putting it mildly. They jump up and down, walk the length of the pool as their swimmers compete, flail their arms as if swimming in air and yell "Hup! Hup!" to signal how fast their girls should be swimming.
Well, multiply that by about a thousand and it might come close to describing their actions at a sectional.
For example, Saturday at the Warsaw Girls Swim Sectional, both of Bremen's coaches were dressed in camouflage and kept their team's spirits up by jumping up and down, flailing their arms and barking instructions to their swimmers in the pool.
But the coaches were not the only ones who got into the excitement at Saturday's sectional. Several swimmers wore brightly colored tights or old ripped up swimsuits over their school's suits while warming up. Some girls donned animal print cowboy hats or pajama pants when not competing.
Some schools even had cheering sections that wore crazy wigs, homemade T-shirts and painted their arms with waves and swimming slogans.
However, once the competition started, everyone had the same goal - winning. But winning was not easy in a closely matched sectional where five of the 12 events were decided by margins of less than a second.
Bremen took a lead after the second event and held that advantage through the seventh event of the meet, the 100 freestyle, when Plymouth capture the first place spot. Although the Lions and the Pilgirms volleyed back and forth, the Lions won out in the end and placed first as a team.
Tippecanoe Valley was the highest-finishing local team. Behind strong performances from Amber Drudge, Elyse Boggs, Valerie Drudge, Angela Weller, Erin Weaver and Kyleigh Gast, the Vikings placed third in the sectional.
Amber Drudge was the only area competitor to advance to the state competition in a swimming event. She placed first in the 100 freestyle.
Tippecanoe Valley's 400 freestyle team was edged by Bremen in the last event of the sectional.
Valley's coach, Steve Doerscher, was named the sectional coach of the year.
"We had some really good swims," said Doerscher. "I thought that last relay team had a chance to get out, the girls hoped to go out winners. But Bremen swam really well.
Both of our relay teams (200 medley and 400 freestyle) set school records."
Wawasee's Libby Brown was the only other area competitor to advance out of the sectional. Her fourth-place finish in the diving competition allowed her to move on to the diving regionals at Kokomo on Tuesday.
"This was a super meet for us," said Wawasee coach Roger Karns. "Our girls stepped it up and swam better all the way around today. They were aggressive and everyone dropped times today. We are a young team with only three seniors, so I am very pleased. I couldn't be prouder.
"Libby is a freshman, and this is very exciting for her. I am very happy for her."
Warsaw's 200 freestyle relay team of Laura Noggle, Claire Beckett, Jaci Thallemer and Aislinn Ummel did not advance to the state meet, but they set a school record in the event.
"Since the beginning of the season, the girls have been working on breaking that record," said Warsaw coach Terry Aukeman. "I am happy for them, they swam very well."
Amber Drudge will compete at the state meet this weekend, while Brow will head to the diving regional Tuesday.
Team results -Ê1. Bremen 229, 2. Plymouth 219, 3. Tippecanoe Valley 183; 4. CGA 162; 5. Wawasee 158; 6. Warsaw 143; 7. Huntington North 138; 8. Rochester 75; 9. (tie) Manchester 26, Wabash 26
200 Medley Relay -Ê1. Huntington North 2:01.14; 2. Bremen; 3. Plymouth; 4. Tippecanoe Valley; 5. Culver Girls Academy; 6. Wawasee; 7. Rochester; 8. Warsaw; 9. Manchester
200 Freestyle -Ê1. Erin Schramm (B) 1:59.75; 2. Sarah Marty (Waw); 3. Elyse Boggs (TV); 4. Elizabeth Sturtevant (P); 5. Jaci Thallemer (War); 6. Alyssa Anglin (TV); 7. Katie Ryan (B); 8. Laura Noggle (War); 9. Diane Jackson (Waw); 10. Hilary Vanlaningham (TV); 11. Edwina Anderson (CGA); 12. Bridget Kornexl (HN)
200 Individual Medley -Ê1. Katherine Martha (CGA) 2:17.16; 2. Jody Wagner (B); 3. Kari Hueni (B); 4. Juli Hueni (B); 5. Amber Lyon (War); 6. Jessie Grossnickle (R); 7. Hillary Barlow (War); 8. Becky Cook (War); 9. Valerie Drudge (TV); 10. Katie Day (P); 11. None Hollenbaugh (P); 12. Sarah Cook (War)
50 Freestyle -Ê1. Jaclyn Jennings (B) 25.60; 2. Amber Drudge (TV); 3. Shannon Dietz (P); 4. Claire Beckett (War); 5. Leigh Bandy (CGA); 6. Kyleigh Gast (TV); 7. Staci Pulliam (P); 8. Angela Weller (TV); 9. Aislinn Ummel (War); 10. Anneka Parks (B); 11. Cara Wade (R); 12. Liz White (Waw)
Diving -Ê1. Sarah Eiler (R) 288.35; 2. Kelsey Beckham (P); 3. Ashley Koenig (CGA); 4. Libby Brown (Waw); 5. Brandi Bause (War); 6. Brooke Brodrick (HN); 7. Jessica Vervynckt (P); 8. Rebekah Judy (Waw); 9. Lauren Stratton (CGA); 10. Carrie Alles (Waw); 11. Laura Levenhagen (CGA): 12. Lauren Burton (HN)
100 Butterfly -Ê1. Diana Coughlin (CGA) 1:01.95; 2. Sarah Robbins (HN); 3. Kelsey Blubaugh (P); 4. Nicole Molitor (HN); 5. Brynne Kolbe (B); 6. Jody Wagner (B); 7. Lindsay Wyatt (HN); 8. Amber Lyon (Waw); 9. Hillary Barlow (War); 10. Becky Cook (War); 11. Brittany Blackburn (R); 12. Erin Weaver (TV)
100 Freestyle -Ê1. Amber Drudge (TV) 55.00; 2. Katherine Mertes (P); 3. Shannon Dietz (P); 4. Staci Pulliam (P); 5. Leigh Bady (CGA); 6. Alyssa Anglin (TV); 7. Kyleigh Gast (TV); 8. Claire Beckett (War); 9. Diane Jackson (Waw); 10. Danielle Stealy (CGA); 11. Aislinn Ummel (War); 12. Anneka Parks (B)
500 Freestyle -Ê1. Erin Schramm (B) 5:21.51; 2. Kristin Brubaker (Wab); 3. Sarah Marty (Waw); 4. Elizabeth Sturtevant (P); 5. Jaci Thallemer (War); 6. Sarah Robbins (HN); 7. Katie Ryan (B); 8. Elyse Boggs (TV); 9. Jennifer Lewis (HN); 10. Bridget Kornexl (HN): 11. Laura Noggle (War); 12. Nancy Evens (CGA)
200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Plymouth 1:44.11; 2. Bremen; 3. Warsaw; 4. Tippecanoe Valley; 5. Wawasee; 6. Huntington North; 7. CGA; 8. Rochester; 9. Manchester
100 Backstroke -Ê1. Diana Coughlin (CGA) 1:03.56; 2. Kristin Brubaker (Wab); 3. Kelsey Blubaugh (P); 4. Liz White (Waw); 5. Rebekah Judy (Waw); 6. Hilary Vanlaningham (TV); 7. Nona Hollenbaugh (War); 8. Elizabeth Helfrich (War); 9. Sarah Cook (War); 10. Libby Brown (Waw); 11. Valerie Drudge (TV); 12. Brittany Blackburn (R)
100 Breaststroke -Ê1. Nicole Molitor (HN) 1:08.88; 2. Jessie Grossnickle (R); 3. Brynne Kolbe (B); 4. Katherine Martha (CGA); 5. Jenna Rantz (Waw); 6. Angela Weller (TV); 7. Kari Hueni (B); 8. Juli Hueni (B); 9. Elizabeth Muelhausen (P); 10. Danielle Stealy (CGA); 11. Katie Day (P); 12. Andrea Heyde (War)
400 Freestyle Relay - 1. Bremen 3:48.79; 2. Tippecanoe Valley; 3. Plymouth; 4. CGA; 5. Warsaw; 6. Wawasee; 7. Huntington North; 8. Manchester; 9. Rochester [[In-content Ad]]
To say swim coaches are animated at meets during the regular season is putting it mildly. They jump up and down, walk the length of the pool as their swimmers compete, flail their arms as if swimming in air and yell "Hup! Hup!" to signal how fast their girls should be swimming.
Well, multiply that by about a thousand and it might come close to describing their actions at a sectional.
For example, Saturday at the Warsaw Girls Swim Sectional, both of Bremen's coaches were dressed in camouflage and kept their team's spirits up by jumping up and down, flailing their arms and barking instructions to their swimmers in the pool.
But the coaches were not the only ones who got into the excitement at Saturday's sectional. Several swimmers wore brightly colored tights or old ripped up swimsuits over their school's suits while warming up. Some girls donned animal print cowboy hats or pajama pants when not competing.
Some schools even had cheering sections that wore crazy wigs, homemade T-shirts and painted their arms with waves and swimming slogans.
However, once the competition started, everyone had the same goal - winning. But winning was not easy in a closely matched sectional where five of the 12 events were decided by margins of less than a second.
Bremen took a lead after the second event and held that advantage through the seventh event of the meet, the 100 freestyle, when Plymouth capture the first place spot. Although the Lions and the Pilgirms volleyed back and forth, the Lions won out in the end and placed first as a team.
Tippecanoe Valley was the highest-finishing local team. Behind strong performances from Amber Drudge, Elyse Boggs, Valerie Drudge, Angela Weller, Erin Weaver and Kyleigh Gast, the Vikings placed third in the sectional.
Amber Drudge was the only area competitor to advance to the state competition in a swimming event. She placed first in the 100 freestyle.
Tippecanoe Valley's 400 freestyle team was edged by Bremen in the last event of the sectional.
Valley's coach, Steve Doerscher, was named the sectional coach of the year.
"We had some really good swims," said Doerscher. "I thought that last relay team had a chance to get out, the girls hoped to go out winners. But Bremen swam really well.
Both of our relay teams (200 medley and 400 freestyle) set school records."
Wawasee's Libby Brown was the only other area competitor to advance out of the sectional. Her fourth-place finish in the diving competition allowed her to move on to the diving regionals at Kokomo on Tuesday.
"This was a super meet for us," said Wawasee coach Roger Karns. "Our girls stepped it up and swam better all the way around today. They were aggressive and everyone dropped times today. We are a young team with only three seniors, so I am very pleased. I couldn't be prouder.
"Libby is a freshman, and this is very exciting for her. I am very happy for her."
Warsaw's 200 freestyle relay team of Laura Noggle, Claire Beckett, Jaci Thallemer and Aislinn Ummel did not advance to the state meet, but they set a school record in the event.
"Since the beginning of the season, the girls have been working on breaking that record," said Warsaw coach Terry Aukeman. "I am happy for them, they swam very well."
Amber Drudge will compete at the state meet this weekend, while Brow will head to the diving regional Tuesday.
Team results -Ê1. Bremen 229, 2. Plymouth 219, 3. Tippecanoe Valley 183; 4. CGA 162; 5. Wawasee 158; 6. Warsaw 143; 7. Huntington North 138; 8. Rochester 75; 9. (tie) Manchester 26, Wabash 26
200 Medley Relay -Ê1. Huntington North 2:01.14; 2. Bremen; 3. Plymouth; 4. Tippecanoe Valley; 5. Culver Girls Academy; 6. Wawasee; 7. Rochester; 8. Warsaw; 9. Manchester
200 Freestyle -Ê1. Erin Schramm (B) 1:59.75; 2. Sarah Marty (Waw); 3. Elyse Boggs (TV); 4. Elizabeth Sturtevant (P); 5. Jaci Thallemer (War); 6. Alyssa Anglin (TV); 7. Katie Ryan (B); 8. Laura Noggle (War); 9. Diane Jackson (Waw); 10. Hilary Vanlaningham (TV); 11. Edwina Anderson (CGA); 12. Bridget Kornexl (HN)
200 Individual Medley -Ê1. Katherine Martha (CGA) 2:17.16; 2. Jody Wagner (B); 3. Kari Hueni (B); 4. Juli Hueni (B); 5. Amber Lyon (War); 6. Jessie Grossnickle (R); 7. Hillary Barlow (War); 8. Becky Cook (War); 9. Valerie Drudge (TV); 10. Katie Day (P); 11. None Hollenbaugh (P); 12. Sarah Cook (War)
50 Freestyle -Ê1. Jaclyn Jennings (B) 25.60; 2. Amber Drudge (TV); 3. Shannon Dietz (P); 4. Claire Beckett (War); 5. Leigh Bandy (CGA); 6. Kyleigh Gast (TV); 7. Staci Pulliam (P); 8. Angela Weller (TV); 9. Aislinn Ummel (War); 10. Anneka Parks (B); 11. Cara Wade (R); 12. Liz White (Waw)
Diving -Ê1. Sarah Eiler (R) 288.35; 2. Kelsey Beckham (P); 3. Ashley Koenig (CGA); 4. Libby Brown (Waw); 5. Brandi Bause (War); 6. Brooke Brodrick (HN); 7. Jessica Vervynckt (P); 8. Rebekah Judy (Waw); 9. Lauren Stratton (CGA); 10. Carrie Alles (Waw); 11. Laura Levenhagen (CGA): 12. Lauren Burton (HN)
100 Butterfly -Ê1. Diana Coughlin (CGA) 1:01.95; 2. Sarah Robbins (HN); 3. Kelsey Blubaugh (P); 4. Nicole Molitor (HN); 5. Brynne Kolbe (B); 6. Jody Wagner (B); 7. Lindsay Wyatt (HN); 8. Amber Lyon (Waw); 9. Hillary Barlow (War); 10. Becky Cook (War); 11. Brittany Blackburn (R); 12. Erin Weaver (TV)
100 Freestyle -Ê1. Amber Drudge (TV) 55.00; 2. Katherine Mertes (P); 3. Shannon Dietz (P); 4. Staci Pulliam (P); 5. Leigh Bady (CGA); 6. Alyssa Anglin (TV); 7. Kyleigh Gast (TV); 8. Claire Beckett (War); 9. Diane Jackson (Waw); 10. Danielle Stealy (CGA); 11. Aislinn Ummel (War); 12. Anneka Parks (B)
500 Freestyle -Ê1. Erin Schramm (B) 5:21.51; 2. Kristin Brubaker (Wab); 3. Sarah Marty (Waw); 4. Elizabeth Sturtevant (P); 5. Jaci Thallemer (War); 6. Sarah Robbins (HN); 7. Katie Ryan (B); 8. Elyse Boggs (TV); 9. Jennifer Lewis (HN); 10. Bridget Kornexl (HN): 11. Laura Noggle (War); 12. Nancy Evens (CGA)
200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Plymouth 1:44.11; 2. Bremen; 3. Warsaw; 4. Tippecanoe Valley; 5. Wawasee; 6. Huntington North; 7. CGA; 8. Rochester; 9. Manchester
100 Backstroke -Ê1. Diana Coughlin (CGA) 1:03.56; 2. Kristin Brubaker (Wab); 3. Kelsey Blubaugh (P); 4. Liz White (Waw); 5. Rebekah Judy (Waw); 6. Hilary Vanlaningham (TV); 7. Nona Hollenbaugh (War); 8. Elizabeth Helfrich (War); 9. Sarah Cook (War); 10. Libby Brown (Waw); 11. Valerie Drudge (TV); 12. Brittany Blackburn (R)
100 Breaststroke -Ê1. Nicole Molitor (HN) 1:08.88; 2. Jessie Grossnickle (R); 3. Brynne Kolbe (B); 4. Katherine Martha (CGA); 5. Jenna Rantz (Waw); 6. Angela Weller (TV); 7. Kari Hueni (B); 8. Juli Hueni (B); 9. Elizabeth Muelhausen (P); 10. Danielle Stealy (CGA); 11. Katie Day (P); 12. Andrea Heyde (War)
400 Freestyle Relay - 1. Bremen 3:48.79; 2. Tippecanoe Valley; 3. Plymouth; 4. CGA; 5. Warsaw; 6. Wawasee; 7. Huntington North; 8. Manchester; 9. Rochester [[In-content Ad]]