INDIANAPOLIS — The Avon Orioles were a heavy contributor of Hendricks County competitors at Saturday’s 2013 IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship.
Avon had seven girls compete at the state meet in eight events at the IU Natatorium at IUPUI.
“They swam with a lot of heart, they moved up in their positioning for the most part,” Avon coach Jon Karr said. “I was very pleased with our effort. Definitely on the right track moving forward.”
All three of the Oriole relay teams helped add to Avon’s weekend at the state finals.
“Making the state meet is the first step and then three relays scoring at the state meet is the next step,” Karr said.
Avon senior Liz Wishart had the lone podium finish of Hendricks County Saturday. She placed seventh in the 100 breast with a 1:05.96. To go out with a podium finish is special for Wishart.
“It’s probably the best feeling that I’ll ever have,” she said. “It’s the most adrenaline I’ve ever had.”
Wishart was also a member of the 200 medley relay team along with Ana Walters, Miranda Fay and Lauren Campbell. That quartet was the highest finishing of Avon’s three relay teams with a tenth place finish.
Walters had a busy day individually for the Orioles as well. The sophomore finished 11th in the 100 back and 15th in the 200 IM.
“She had a tough day. It’s definitely rough swimming all of those events back-to-back,” Karr said. “It’s been seven swims for her in less than a 24-hour period. It’s one of those things we’ve trained to do it and she’s handled it pretty well.”
On top of her individual events, Walters finished 10th in the 200 medley relay and 21st on the 400 free relay team. An impressive amount of swimming for the sophomore.
“She’s always been a special kid,” Karr said. “She’s starting to really get control of her own career and she’s starting to really work a lot harder.”
Plainfield junior Courtney Coverdale finished ninth in diving, one spot and 2.05 away from a podium finish.
But it is the third straight appearance for Coverdale at the state diving finals.
“I’ve been the past three years and I still get nervous every time,” Coverdale said. “It’s crazy to be here with all of these amazing divers that I don’t get to dive with in the regular season.”
Friday was the end of a fruitful season for other swimmers as well.
Avon freshman Hallie Jones played 22nd in the 200 free and 27th in the 100 free.
Wishart added to her busy weekend with a 26th place in the 200 IM.
Brownsburg senior Madeline Ketchem finished 22nd in the 100 fly.
Plainfield freshman diver Molly Fears finished 22nd with a preliminary score of 153.90.
Avon senior diver Melissa Moore finished 28th with a preliminary score of 146.15.
Tri-West senior Lorin Dickerson wrapped up her diving career with a 30th place finish and preliminary score of 141.60.
The 200 Avon relay team of Wishart, Fay, Jones and Campbell finished 20th in the 200 relay and the 400 free relay team of Campbell, Jones, Elizabeth Kitching and Walters finished 21st.
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