IHSAA girls state swim meet preview: Penn, Lily Christianson set sights on titles Saturday

Justin Frommer, South Bend Tribune
·4 min read

MISHAWAKA — The morning of last Saturday's girls swim sectional at Penn High School, Kingsmen coach Jess Preston and his assistants tried to predict how many records would be broken that day.

One thought two. Another thought three. But Preston?

"I said six," he said. "Five by us and one by the South Bend Adams' (Addy Szakaly)."

More:Penn, Lily Christianson dominate Northern Indiana Conference girls swim meet in Elkhart

More:Records fall as Penn girls swimming cruises to another sectional title

Preston, this year's Northern Indiana Conference coach of the year, was almost right on the money.

On the Kingsmen's side, Lily Christianson set new records in the 50-freestyle (22.60) and 100-free (49.26). Alayna Riggins set the new sectional record in the 100-butterfly (54.70). The duo also combined with Avery Woods and Anika Guenther to set the 200-medley relay.

Preston said his inkling for records to fall was based on the fact Penn hadn't hosted a girls swimming sectional since Christianson has been on the team. Combined with the Kingsmen's depth and he knew his swimmers were going to have a strong meet.

Now, Penn looks to build on that performance at This weekend's IHSAA girls state swim meet at Indiana University Natatorium. Prelims begin at 6 p.m. Friday with swimming finals and consolations beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday. Diving preliminaries start at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Penn’s Lilian Christianson competes in the 100-yard freestyle event during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.
Penn’s Lilian Christianson competes in the 100-yard freestyle event during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.

"The girls are definitely excited and positioned themselves well to score a decent amount of points at the state meet," Preston said. "We are all very excited for them."

In Christianson, the Kingsmen return one of the top swimmers in the country, who also won and set a record at last year's state meet in the 50-free (22.14). She also won the event as a freshman.

Preston said he expects Christianson to be even faster this year, despite going against Carmel's Alex Shackell, who he believes is the best swimmer in Indiana history.

More:Penn's Lily Christianson and Jess Preston take top Northern Indiana Conference swim honors

"She (Shackell) could almost get a state record in any event she wants," Preston said. "But Lily beat her last year and I don't see her as the underdog."

Neither does Christianson, who's expectations in her third state meet go beyond one title and a record.

"I feel the added pressure to get another state title in the 50-free," she said. "I'm pretty confident because this is what we train for. I also have goals of getting the 100-free (title) and setting more records."

Riggins, a freshman, is hoping for success in her first trip to Indianapolis.

Penn’s Alayna Riggins competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.
Penn’s Alayna Riggins competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.

"I've always been at the top of Indiana swimming," she said. "It's really great to have my name up there with all the other amazing swimmers."

In the 200-Medley, Penn's relay team is seeded is second, behind Carmel's, which is expected to break the national record (1:38.13)

"If that happens we are going to be swimming right next to them," Preston said. "Maybe we got second, but the team next to us needed a national record to beat us."

South Bend-area state qualifiers

Find Friday preliminary heat sheets here.

200-yard medley relay

South Bend Adams — Addy Szakaly, Elisa Nerenberg, Willa Kricheff and Addison Skube; Penn — Avery Woods, Anika Guenther, Alayna Riggins and Lily Christianson; Northridge — Izzy Melvin, Tavia Bratt, Sydney Nethercutt and Americis Ingling; Concord — Ella Lantz, Isabella Sponseller, Sophia Stutsman and Mya Ernsberger.

200-yard freestyle

Claire Dobrydney (South Bend Saint Joseph); Sophia Stutsman (Concord); Catherine Brenneman (Concord); Sydney Nethercutt (Northridge); Caiya Cooper (LaPorte).

200-yard individual medley

Addy Szakaly (South Bend Adams); Anika Guenther (Penn).

50-yard freestyle

Americis Ingling (Northridge); Celeste Hollis (South Bend Riley); Lily Christianson (Penn); Alayna Riggins (Penn); Audrey Lantz (Concord).

Riley’s Celeste Hollis shakes hands with Penn’s Lilian Christianson after the 50-yard freestyle during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.
Riley’s Celeste Hollis shakes hands with Penn’s Lilian Christianson after the 50-yard freestyle during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.

100-yard butterfly

Sophia Stutsman (Concord); Audrey Lantz (Concord); Celeste Hollis (South Bend Riley); Alayna Riggins (Penn).

100-yard freestyle

Americis Ingling (Northridge); Lily Christianson (Penn); Ella Lantz (Concord)

500-yard freestyle

Claire Dobrydney (South Bend Saint Joseph); Caiya Cooper (LaPorte); Catherine Brenneman (Concord); Sydney Nethercutt (Northridge)

Saint Joseph’s Claire Dobrydney competes in the 200-yard freestyle event during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.
Saint Joseph’s Claire Dobrydney competes in the 200-yard freestyle event during the girls sectional swimming preliminaries Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at Penn High School.

200-yard freestyle relay

Concord — Audrey Lantz, Mya Ernsberger, Isabella Sponseller and Catherine Brenneman; Northridge — Sam Hunter, Americis Ingling, Tavia Bratt and Sydney Nethercutt; Penn — Anika Guenther, Alayna Riggins, Jordan Koszyk and Lily Christianson.

100-yard backstroke

Addy Szakaly (South Bend Adams); Mya Ernsberger (Concord); Ella Lantz (Concord)

100-yard breastsroke

Izzy Melvin (Northridge); Anika Guenther (Penn).

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

Northridge — Sam hunter, Faye Hunsberger, Audrey Yeater and Izzy Melvin; Concord — Catherine Brenneman, Sophia Stutsman, Ella Lantz and Audrey Lantz; Penn — Avery Woods, Emmi Richards, Ebba Fox and Jordan Koszyk; South Bend Adams — Addy Szakaly, Addison Skube, Willa Kricheff, Elisa Nerenberg.

1-Meter Diving

Lilly Deeds (Mishawaka); Ryleigh Robinson, Concord

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Lily Christianson, Alayna Riggins lead Penn girls swim into state meet