INDIANAPOLIS – On her fourth trip to the girls swimming state finals, Wawasee High School senior Brittany Robinson captured a championship. Having gone to the state finals in the 50 free and 100 butterfly the past three seasons, Brittany was back at IUPUI's Natatorium this weekend, competing in the 100 fly and 100 back. Brittany not only won the 100 fly, but won in a state-record time of 53.41 seconds. "It was an amazing swim," Brittany's mother/coach Julie Robinson said Sunday afternoon while travelling back from Indianapolis. "She was happy to get first and to be the state record holder." The previous state record in the 100 fly was 53.91 set in 2008 by Harrison (West Lafayette) swimmer Jenny Connolly. Along with winning the 100 fly, Brittany also placed second in the 100 back, clocking in at a time of 54.70. Carmel senior Alexis Bullard won the event in 54.43, while Carmel sophomore Hanna House was third in 54.92, illustrating how tight the race was. "She went out there to get the win," Julie said about the 100 back race. "The three girls were together the whole time, swimming side by side. It was a great race. This was the first year Brittany swam the event, having swum the 50 free the previous three years. So, with that, she did very good." Along with Brittany's performance, her younger sister, freshman Breanna Robinson, also had a strong showing, finishing second in the 200 free (1:50.63) and third in the 100 free (50.74). "She was incredible," Julie said about her youngest daughter. "A lot of freshmen go down there and are a little overwhelmed, but she was real strong. She did extremely well. She swam her races, and for a freshman to place second and third, that's impressive." In the 200 free, Breanna was just behind Zionsville senior Zoe Mattingly's winning time of 1:49.53, while she finished behind Chesterton senior Olivia Kabacinski (49.94) and Mattingly (50.27) in the 100 free. The sisters also teamed up on the 400 free relay with seniors Sarah Rozow and Sarah Steele, helping the Lady Warriors squad finish 13th in a time of 3:35.22. On the day, the Robinsons combined to nab one first-place finish, as well as two second places and a third, as their name was brought up quite a bit by those watching. "There were a lot of coaches coming up to me and congratulating me, not only because they were my swimmers, but also because they were my daughters," Julie said. "They've really gotten to know about Brittany, having seen her down there the previous three years. And with Breanna also being down there, it wasn't only coaches taking notice, but fans were too. But anytime there's a sibling tandem that does well, it's going to get some attention." The state meet was the last time Brittany swam for the Lady Warriors, but it wasn't the last time she'd be swimming for her mom. "It was kind of surreal, because it didn't seem like her last meet," Julie said. "I've had her for so long and we still have club swimming to do, which will last into the summer. But when I do coach her last meet, it's going to be tough." But will that sentiment be shared when Julie has to give her daughter away to the University of Louisville coaching staff? "For Brittany? No," Julie said. "For me? Yes." Julie does still have one daughter to coach, and she also adopts a motherly bond with all her swimmers. "Breanna, and a lot of my other swimmers, have been with me for a long time through club," Julie said. "You really develop a relationship with the kids and start to feel like they're your own. So, you really begin to root for them just like you do your own kids." And while she'll only be coaching Brittany for a couple more months, she'll be coaching the girl who swam the fastest 100 fly in state finals history.
