Carmel's sectional swim dominance 'insane'

NOBLESVILLE – Girls sectional and state swim championships are usually taken for granted at Carmel High School. Not so for a senior like Mary Woods, who has waited all of her 17 years to represent the Greyhounds in a state meet.

"It's such an honor to even get one individual swim or even be an alternate," Woods said. "It's a great environment to train in and a great team to be a part of."

Woods was third in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke at Saturday's Noblesville Sectional, making state cuts in each. Even by Carmel standards, Carmel's dominance was "insane," as senior sprinter Amy Bilquist put it.

Out of 544 possible swim points, the Greyhounds scored 544. They were 1-2-3 in each of eight individual events and first in all three relays, setting six sectional records.

"I don't even think we realized that was happening until it was over," said Bilquist, who set sectional records of 22.72 and 49.65 in the 50 and 100 freestyles, respectively.

Including 23 diving points, Carmel totaled 567 to secure a 31st consecutive sectional title. Noblesville was second with 431 and Westfield third with 306.

Now it's on to the Natatorium at IUPUI, where next weekend the Greyhounds will try to tie the all-time, all-sports national record of 29 successive state championships.

Coach Chris Plumb said Carmel swimmers didn't rest for sectional and that about half didn't wear the racing suits they will bring out for state. He called it a business trip: bus over, make state cuts, move on.

"I feel good about where we are, but we've still got some things to fix and to sharpen up for next week and be focused and have some fun," Plumb said.

Claire Adams, a junior seeking a third state title in the 100 backstroke, lowered the sectional record by more than a second to 53.53. Another junior, Veronica Burchill, set a sectional mark of 54.67 in the 100 butterfly.

"Everyone has a lot more in the tank," Bilquist said.

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.

AREA SECTIONAL TEAM SCORES

AT NOBLESVILLE: Carmel 567, Noblesville 431, Westfield 306, Northwestern 214, Western 169, Hamilton Heights and Maconaquah 129, Guerin Catholic 104, Eastern (Greentown) 90, Kokomo 55, Tipton 41.

AT FISHERS: Hamilton Southeastern 507, Fishers 494, Yorktown 292, Pendleton Heights 253, Oak Hill 223, Anderson 151, Marion 77, Elwood 76, Liberty Christian 56.

AT AVON: Avon 458, Plainfield 353, Terre Haute South 344, Terre Haute North 240, Greencastle 201, Cascade 146, Danville 132, Tri-West 124, South Putnam 101, North Putnam 72, West Vigo 24.

AT ZIONSVILLE: Zionsville 538, McCutcheon 313, Harrison (West Lafayette) 299, West Lafayette 287, Clinton Central and Lafayette Jeff 159, Lebanon 151, Frankfort 131, Lafayette Central Catholic 79, Carroll (Flora) 65, University 29.

AT DECATUR CENTRAL: Brownsburg 546, Brebeuf Jesuit 289, Pike 241, Ben Davis 219, Decatur Central 188, Park Tudor 148, Herron 135, International 108, Cardinal Ritter 103, Speedway 79, Covenant Christian 45, Tech 36.

AT NORTH CENTRAL: North Central 547, Lawrence North 319, Franklin Central 308, Cathedral 281, Warren Central 211, Bishop Chatard 128, Shelbyville 122, Lawrence Central 98, Broad Ripple 64, Heritage Christian 61, Beech Grove 60, Scecina 23.

AT FRANKLIN: Center Grove 498, Franklin 431 ½, Martinsville 223, Greenwood 221, Whiteland 217 ½, Southport 155, Perry Meridian 151, Indian Creek 149, Roncalli 95, Mooresville 41, Owen Valley 24.