Penn's Lily Christianson wins third state swimming title, this time in the 100-freestyle
INDIANAPOLIS — Penn coach Jess Preston sounded enthused as he stood near a huddle of his swimmers after Saturday’s IHSAA Girls State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium.
He had just watched his team claim a third-place finish in the meet — the matching the spot of the 2014 squad and the program’s second-highest ever. Penn finished as runner-up in both 1980 and 2013.
“After Friday night’s (preliminaries), I felt we could finish anywhere from third to seventh,” Preston said. “Third place would be a lofty goal, but the girls responded well and everyone moved up.”
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Penn turned in its fine performance on a day where Carmel continued its historic-level dominance of the sport. The Greyhounds won their 37th-consecutive state title — a national record for a school in any sport. This time, however, Carmel scored 498 points (a state record), won 10 of the 12 events (another state record) and set five new meet records (one short of a state record) along with a pair of national records.
Simply put, it was perhaps the most dominating performance ever in the state finals by a program that has turned in plenty of dominating performances over the years.
Fishers placed second with 233 points, followed by Penn (156) and Hamilton Southeastern (148). Local schools included Concord (sixth with 129.5 points), Northridge (13th with 61), Adams (tied for 20th with 17 and Mishawaka (two points).
The Penn swimmers were led, as usual, by junior Lily Christianson, who claimed a state championship in the 100 freestyle (:48.59) and a second-place in the 50 free with an astounding :22.09 clocking. The North Carolina State-recruit also anchored a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
In order to grasp the significance of Christianson’s performance Saturday, one must consider who she finished behind in those three second-place finishes.
▶ In the 50 free — an event she won both her freshman and sophomore seasons — Christianson finished behind Carmel’s Alex Shackell who set a state record at :21.93. Shackell won four races (two individual and two relays) all with state record performances and two national records in relays.
▶ In the 200 medley relay, the first event of the meet, Christianson started her anchor leg in fourth place, but brought Penn back to second in 1:42.18. Avery Woods, Annika Guenther and Alayna Riggins swam the first three legs. Carmel set a national record with a 1:36.98 finish.
▶ In the 200 free relay, Christianson also anchored Guenther, Riggins and Jordan Koszyk to finish second in 1:33.58. Carmel won the event with a 1:30.23 clocking — yes, another national record.
“A Penn relay has never won a state championship and we hope to get over that hurdle some day,” Preston said. “But, when you finish second to a relay that sets a national record, what can you do?”
That 200 free relay came after Christianson swam to a win in the 100 freestyle (49.25) as she avenged her loss in the 50 free. She edged out Carmel senior Berit Berglund (45.53).
“I wanted to keep winning the 50,” Christianson admitted, “but it’s nice to win the 100. The first two years, I won the 50 and was second in the 100 and now it was reversed. I’ll look forward to next year.”
“After the 50, I told Lily she looked faster than she ever has,” Preston said. “She was disappointed, but you don’t really have to say much to her. She’s a competitor and I had no doubt she would come back strong in the 100.”
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In addition to Christianson’s individual and relay performances, Penn got a sixth-place from freshman Riggins in the 100 butterfly (:55.64) and also ninth-places (the first spot in the consolation races) from Riggins in the 50 free and from Guenther, a sophomore, in the 100 breaststroke.
“We’re not losing many (seniors) and we have a good eighth-grade class coming in next year,” Preston said. “I think it’s a really exciting time to be a Penn swimmer.”
Concord’s effort was led by the 400 free relay of Catherine Brenneman, Sophia Stutsman, Ella Lantz and Audrey Lantz who placed fourth in 3:27.49, while Brenneman took fifth in the 500 free (1:49.83).
Adams freshman Addy Szakaly brought home an eighth-place medal in the 100 backstroke (57.77).
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn's Lily Christian earns another IHSAA girls swimming state title
