PLAINFIELD —
Terre Haute South freshman Chandler Bray won the 200-yard individual medley and the Braves placed second as a team behind favored Avon in Saturday’s finals of the IHSAA Plainfield Sectional for boys swimming.
Avon accumulated 511 points, with South next at 423, Plainfield third at 244 and Terre Haute North fourth at 230. Greencastle was fifth with 193, while South Putnam and West Vigo finished 10th and 11th respectively.
“I knew Avon was a clear favorite going in,” South coach Jeff Thompson told the Tribune-Star. “We made some points up on Thursday [in the sectional preliminaries] and put ourselves in position where we could win today. But it meant that Avon was going to have to make mistakes.”
That didn’t happen, but finishing second was not a bad showing for the Braves.
Bray’s time in the 200 IM was 1 minute, 54.94 seconds. He’ll move on to the state finals Friday (and possibly Saturday) at the Indiana University Natatorium on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis.
“Chandler actually broke the [age] 13-14 state record previously owned by Kyle Whitaker [in the 200 IM], so that was a pretty cool deal,” Thompson pointed out. “Chandler had a great day. His 100 breast[stroke] time [58.73, good for third place] was a little off what it was the other night. But I think his mind was all wrapped around that 200 IM today. He had a goal and he went out and did it.”
“Before the race even started, I was very nervous,” the 14-year-old Bray said of his 200 IM performance. “After the first 50 [yards], which is my weakest part of the IM, I was ahead. I knew then it was my race to lose. I had a really solid middle 100. Then in the last 50, I started hurting really bad — my arms and my legs mostly.”
Still clinging to a lead over Avon sophomore Grant Lewis, Bray realized he needed to fight through the pain if he wanted to capture his first sectional championship.
“I put my head down and went [as fast as possible],” Bray continued. “I was pretty happy at the end.”
Bray’s goals for the state finals are to improve his times and place in the top three in the 200 IM.
Other top-four finishers for South on Saturday were its 200 medley relay squad (second in 1:37.53); junior Christian Wilhelm in the 200 freestyle (second in 1:43.88) and 500 freestyle (second in 4:43.72), sophomore Dalton Mitchell in the 200 IM (third in 1:57.25) and 100 backstroke (third in 53.82); junior Josh Ford in the 200 IM (fourth in 1:59.76); senior Alex Davis in diving (second with 408.80 points); senior Collin McCord in the 100 butterfly (fourth in 54.63); its 200 free relay squad (third in 1:32.55); and its 400 free relay squad (second in 3:12.55).
Thompson said both of Wilhelm’s times were school records.
In addition to Bray in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, South will send Wilhelm (200 and 500 freestyles), its 200 medley and 400 free relay squads and Mitchell (100 backstroke) to the state finals.
Also, Davis will advance to the diving regional Tuesday evening at Avon.
“It was a great team performance,” Thompson summarized.
Meanwhile, North’s top-four finishers were junior Courtland Jones in the 100 freestyle (third in 49.48), senior Matt Priester in the 500 freestyle (fourth in 4:49.56), its 200 free relay foursome (fourth in 1:32.89) and its 400 free relay foursome (fourth in 3:23.48).
“[Fourth in the team standings] is as good as we expected to do,” North coach Mike Williams assessed afterward. “We knew we were up against some tough teams. … It would have been nice to catch Plainfield [for third].”
Williams, who mentioned that the Patriots carried only 12 athletes on their roster for this sectional, said seniors Priester, James Welch, Stephen Koos and Josh Dadson contributed clutch performances Saturday.
“We’ve got some recruiting to do,” Williams admitted while looking ahead to next season. “We’ve got some serious recruiting to do to get our numbers back up. … We’re going to get out and kinda beat the bushes and look in the middle schools for some kids who want to be part of a great program.”
Also worth noting, Greencastle had a double winner in junior Nash Firebaugh, who finished first in the 50 freestyle (22.22) and 100 butterfly (51.30).
On an awards note, Thompson was named the sectional’s Coach of the Year after the meet.
“That’s just great swimmers, great parents and great assistant coaches making me look good,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s all that is.”
Saturday
Team scores — Avon 511, Terre Haute South 423, Plainfield 244, Terre Haute North 230, Greencastle 193, Danville 144, North Putnam 125, Tri-West 121, Cascade 100, South Putnam 88, West Vigo 56.
Top 8 in each event
200 medley relay — Avon 1:35.15*, Terre Haute South 1:37.53, Greencastle 1:42.12, Danville 1:47.41, Tri-West 1:49.91, North Putnam 1:50.64, Terre Haute North 1:52.44, Plainfield 1:52.97.
200 freestyle — Parks Jones (A) 1:43.10, Christian Wilhelm (THS) 1:43.38, Nick Allen (P) 1:45.32, Quinn McPhail (A) 1:47.20, Courtland Jones (THN) 1:48.57, Westin Fink (A) 1:48.78, Dakota Rhodes (P) 1:49.69, James Pawlowski (P) 1:53.35.
200 IM — Chandler Bray (THS) 1:54.94, Grant Lewis (A) 1:56.28, Dalton Mitchell (THS) 1:57.25, Josh Ford (THS) 1:59.76, Christian Lorenz (A) 2:00.01, Matthew Priester (THN) 2:03.14, Ray Wang (A) 2:03.30, Dane Gray (NP) 2:05.98.
50 freestyle — Nash Firebaugh (G) 22.22, Grant Callahan (D) 22.25, Chris Tice (P) 22.31, Joe Rank (A) 22.71, Zackary Czerwonky (A) 22.74, Collin McCord (THS) 22.92, Michael Goldhammer (A) 23.03, Luke Peoples (THS) 23.13.
Diving — Evan Cooper (TW) 442.90, Alex Davis (THS) 408.80, Daequan Quinn (A) 343.55, Aaron Lux (P) 341.75, Kyle Trent (C) 335.25, Kasey Hedrick (D) 314.85, James Humphrey (THN) 300.80, Dyllon Harris (THS) 297.20.
100 butterfly — Nash Firebaugh (G) 51.30, Grant Lewis (A) 52.09, Chris Tice (P) 52.84, Collin McCord (THS) 54.63, Zackary Czerwonky (A) 54.66, Colin Mothersead (A) 54.68, Connor McCord (THS) 56.88, Nathan Gardner (G) 57.06.
100 freestyle — Greg Sprout (A) 48.74, Matt Stowe (A) 49.28, Courtland Jones (THN) 49.48, Dakota Rhodes (P) 50.33, Joe Rank (A) 50.38, Elijah Brattain (G) 51.49, James Pawlowski (P) 51.89, Collin Dowell (THS) 51.94.
500 freestyle — Parks Jones (A) 4:41.98, Christian Wilhelm (THS) 4:43.72, Westin Fink (A) 4:48.58, Matthew Priester (THN) 4:49.56, Josh Ford (THS) 4:56.99, Jordan Landau (A) 5:00.88, Connor McCord (THS) 5:14.45, Matt Neilson (D) 5:19.26.
200 free relay — Avon 1:28.64, Plainfield 1:30.20, Greencastle 1:31.50, Terre Haute South 1:32.55, Terre Haute North 1:32.89, North Putnam 1:38.66, South Putnam 1:38.74, Cascade 1:40.47.
100 backstroke — Matt Stowe (A) 53.50, Nick Allen (P) 53.70, Dalton Mitchell (THS) 53.82, Dane Gray (NP) 56.46, Nick Bingaman (A) 57.00, Nathan Gardner (G) 57.15, Jesse Scalf (A) 57.18, William Hubbs (THN) 1:01.70.
100 breaststroke — Christian Lorenz (A) 56.82, Colin Mothersead (A) 58.46, Chandler Bray (THS) 58.73, Quinn McPhail (A) 59.52, Grant Callahan (D) 59.88, Lucas Sturgess (THS) 1:04.12, Michael Crowell (THS) 1:04.58, Robert Brandkamp (TW) 1:08.71.
400 free relay — Avon 3:11.93, Terre Haute South 3:12.55, Plainfield 3:18.39, Terre Haute North 3:23.48, Danville 3:30.52, North Putnam 3:36.82, Cascade 3:42.18, Greencastle 3:43.08.
* — denotes sectional record
High School
South freshman Chandler Bray leads Braves to second at swimming sectional
- High School
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Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
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Post 346 opens tournament with two victories
Preston Tofaute got on base enough to score three runs, Cody Thornton smashed a two-run triple in the first inning and pitcher Pete Lannoo scattered four hits over a seven-inning complete game.
All of that helped Wayne Newton Post 346 down Lafayette Post 11 by a 7-2 score in the opener of the Terre Haute Inviatational tournament for American Legion baseball Thursday afternoon at Terre Haute North High School. -
North boys move up to 13th in golf state finals
Early Wednesday morning, Terre Haute North senior Ryan Baker and coach Abe Nasser headed out to the Legends of Indiana Golf Course for a range session.
Baker wasn’t happy with the 85 he shot in Tuesday’s first round of the IHSAA boys golf state finals.
“He was frustrated,” Nasser said.
Problem solved. Baker bounced back with a 2-over 74 Wednesday, helping the Patriots improve their team score by seven strokes.
The Patriots shot 304 as a team Wednesday, giving them a two-day score of 615, good for 13th place in the 15-team field. -
Big hill to climb for North golf
Terre Haute North boys golf is 21 strokes behind leaders at IHSAA boys golf tourney.
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Top of her game
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Camp, Howe win, then lose in state tennis tourney
Miranda Camp and Nicole Howe of Terre Haute South won their first match of high school tennis Friday at the state individual doubles finals, then won the first set against a powerful Park Tudor team before falling in three sets.
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Terre Haute North heading back to state finals in boys golf
Terre Haute North is going back to the state finals in boys high school golf for the first time in more than 10 years. The Patriots qualified for a trip to The Legends Course next week by tying for third in the Washington Regional at Country Oaks Golf Club and advancing with the better fifth score.
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North, South, Sullivan to compete at golf regional
Boys high school golf teams from the Wabash Valley will compete in the Washington Regional on Thursday, seeking a spot in the state finals to be played next week.
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Terre Haute North falls 6-1 to Brownsburg in opening game of Class 4A Regional
Terre Haute North coach Shawn Turner told the Patriots to raise their heads. He wanted to see their eyes at the close of their 24-7 high school baseball season.
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Terre Haute North girls shine on dreary day at track state finals
Led by a record setting 3,200-meter relay team and Keirra Porter’s long jump, Terre Haute North turned in its best finish ever in the 40th annual IHSAA Girls Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Indiana University in Bloomington.
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Valley teams will have to wait until Monday for baseball regionals
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Rockville's season ends at Lafayette Central Catholic
Lafayette Central Catholic ended Rockville’s tourney run in high school baseball Saturday, defeating the Rox 8-0 in the first game of the LCC Class A Regional.
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IHSAA boys state track finals: Standing alone
It hadn’t been a particularly good day for Wabash Valley track and field Friday, and it wasn’t looking like a good one for Jackson Bertoli either.
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Terre Haute North, West Vigo return to baseball regionals
Terre Haute North’s baseball team hasn’t participated in an IHSAA regional since 2006. West Vigo’s wait hasn’t been as long, but it was 2010 when the Vikings last advanced from a sectional.
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Patriots girls take aim at state track title
Terre Haute North’s girls have several potential state champions today at Indiana University.
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South, North track athletes looking for big performances at state finals
Terre Haute South’s distance trio of Jackson Bertoli, Logan Hambrock and Riley Stohler appear to be the favorites to crack all-state status among Wabash Valley competitors today in the IHSAA boys track and field state finals at Indiana University.
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Internet site keeps area prep teams on airwaves
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South Vermillion softball can't overcome errors, Tri-West
Uncharacteristic errors led to eight unearned runs and hard-luck hitting made that impossible to overcome for South Vermillion, which fell 8-0 to Tri-West in Class 3A regional play.
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Clay City softball comes up short against Lutheran
Clay City closed its high school softball season Tuesday night with the best record ever for the program at 21-9.
The Eels wanted to add another win, the school’s first regional title, but they came up short.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Rockville wins baseball sectional
Rockville won its own Class A sectional in high school baseball Tuesday, defeating Covington 10-4 in the rain-delayed championship game.
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Class 4A Terre Haute South Sectional:The wait is over
Three minutes into an interview with various media members, Terre Haute North baseball coach Shawn Turner couldn’t react fast enough to avoid a bucket of ice water being dumped over his head from behind by his giddy players. The soaking-wet Turner could shake it off with a smile, however, because his Patriots had just won the IHSAA Class 4A Terre Haute South Sectional championship with a 13-3 six-inning triumph over Plainfield on Monday evening.
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Class 4A Terre Haute South Sectional: TH North, Plainfield win squeakers
The high school baseball teams of Terre Haute North and Plainfield proved Monday that what a batter does early in the game is not necessarily indicative of what he will do in the late innings.
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Class 2A Linton Sectional: Eastern rains on Sullivan parade
Mother Nature put Sullivan’s quest for a high school baseball sectional championship on hold Monday night at Linton-Stockton High School. Sullivan (14-15) and Eastern Greene (16-7) will resume play in the Class 2A Sectional 47 championship game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Linton’s Roy Herndon Field.
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Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
In his first season at the helm, first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman is going to be surrounded by men he knows and trusts.
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Class A Shakamak Sectional: Stout pitching leads Union, Shakamak to final
Trey Bedwell and Patrick Green made sure their respective high school baseball teams would meet for the championship of the Class A Shakamak Sectional by pitching shutouts in semifinal contests Monday afternoon.
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Class A Rockville Sectional: Covington, Rockville title game postponed
Rockville and Covington won semifinal high school baseball games Monday to advance to the championship game of the Rockville Class A Sectional. Due to rain, the championship game was postponed. A decision was expected this morning whether the game will be played today or Wednesday.
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South Vermillion, Linton, Clay City look to stay alive in softball
There might have been as many reasons to think they wouldn’t be winning sectionals this spring as evidence to show they would, but high school softball teams from South Vermillion, Linton and Clay City will be playing one-game regionals Tuesday with the chance to keep defying the odds.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
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South runs into ‘buzzsaw’ at girls tennis semistate
Postmatch interviews don’t often begin with a coach and a reporter ready to blurt out the same word, but that was the case for Bill Blankenbaker and his interviewer Saturday morning after the Center Grove Semistate for girls high school tennis.
Unfortunately for Blankenbaker’s Terre Haute South team, that word was “buzzsaw.”
Greenwood’s Kawamoto twins made quick work of the top of the Braves’ singles lineup, so despite stellar efforts by both South doubles teams the Woodmen’s 3-2 victory didn’t seem all that close.
Greenwood moves on to Fishers, where it plays Floyd Central or Jasper on Friday in the state quarterfinals.
Also playing Friday, but at Park Tudor, will be South’s Miranda Camp and Nicole Howe, who reached the individual doubles finals for the second straight season by virtue of their 6-4, 6-2 win over the Greenwood team of Taylor Hudnall and Brittany Toney.
“It’s really exciting,” said Howe of the prospect of a second straight finals trip, “but I wish our team could’ve gone with us.”
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