CLUB OLYMPIA COMPETES AT THE INDIANA SWIMMING 2023 SHORT COURSE SENIOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
This past weekend, eleven Club Olympia Swim Team athletes, who met the tough qualifying time standards in either individual or relay events, competed in the Indiana Swimming 2023 Short Course Senior State Championship. This year’s meet was held at the Pike High School Natatorium on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. Club Olympia scored enough points to claim an impressive 21st place finish overall out of 76 teams from around the state.
Leading Club Olympia in scoring were Brady Beyer and Ashley Freel. Beyer competed in six individual events and as a part of five Club Olympia relay teams. In his individual events, Beyer medaled in four events including a 2nd place in the 1650 yard (mile) Freestyle, 4th in the 1000 Free, 6th in the 400 IM, and 8th in the 200 Breast. Beyer also took 10th in the 100 Breast and 13th in the 200 IM.
Freel repeated as state champion by taking first place, as she did in 2022, in the 200 Free. Freel also medaled by finishing 4th in the 200 Fly and 7th in the 100 Back, as well as placing 9th in the 100 Free and 13th in the 200 Back.
Annie Murer Claimed 30th in the 500 Free, 50th in the 200 Free, and 63rd in the 100 Free. Ty Maher was 35th in the 1650 Free, 36th in the 1000 Free, 63rd in the 200 Fly and 81st in the 200 Free.
12 year old Joshua Pendleton, who qualified to compete at Senior State in two events, finished 37th in the 1650 Free and 62nd in the 200 Fly. Those events are not offered for competition in the 11-12 divisions at Age Group State. His times in those events have him ranked 1st in the U.S. in the 1650 by eight seconds and 14th in the 200 Butterfly within his age group.
Todd Hundley finished 49th in the 200 Back, 70th in the 200 IM, 83rd in the 100 Back, and 94th in the 100 Fly. Judah Nickoll claimed 68th in the 100 Back and 95th in the 50 Free. Cole Ehara was 73rd in the 100 Breast and 99th in the 100 Free. Cavan Stilson, new to swimming since his freshman high school year, competed in his first club state meet finishing 84th in the 100 Free and 98th in the 50 Free.
Club Olympia men’s relay teams were comprised of various combinations of Beyer, Ehara, Hundley, Maher, Lane Mellencamp, Nickoll, Pendleton, Keaton Stephenson, and Stilson. The 800 Free Relay team of Stephenson, Nickoll, Ehara, and Beyer finished 24th place. Stilson, Nickoll, Ehara and Beyer were 33rd in the 200 Medley Relay and 34th in the 400 Free Relay. Nickoll, Beyer, Hundley and Stilson were 33rd in the 400 Medley Relay. The team of Stilson, Nickoll, Stephenson and Beyer were 37th in the 200 Free Relay. The team of Stilson, Pendleton, Mellencamp, and Mayer were 42nd in the 800 Free Relay. Mellencamp, Ehara, Pendleton, and Mayer combined to finish 47th in the 400 Medley Relay.
One noted absence this year at Senior State was Misha Machavariani who had qualified for multiple events but was traveling due to prior commitments.
Club Olympia will have eleven athletes competing this weekend at the Indiana Swimming 2023 Short Course Age Group State Championship at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis for swimmers 14 years and younger. Starting Thursday (March 23), Ashley Freel will be competing in USA Swimming’s Speedo Sectionals, also at the IU Natatorium. The rest of the swimmers not at Age Group State will have 2-3 weeks out of the water awaiting the start of practice for the summer Long Course Season.
The Club’s Learn-to-Swim program is already full for Session One, April 10-May 11. There will be sign-ups soon for a Second Session in May, followed by two sessions this summer. Please check the Club’s website at clubolympiaswimteam.com for more information.
