WARSAW – For the second year in a row, Warsaw’s Brenna Morgan can let that smile go just a little more. The sophomore conquered both the 50 and 100 freestyle swims Saturday at the Warsaw Girls Swimming Sectional, punching her ticket to another state finals appearance.

Morgan won both events in dominating fashion, breaking the meet record in both races and tying her school record in the 50. Morgan’s 50 went 24.07, which broke her record of 24.24 from last season and tied her school record set at the Northern Lakes Conference meet in January. The 100 was just as good, with Morgan going 52.33 to break the 24-year-old sectional record of 52.45 held by Culver Academy’s Elizabeth Zeman.

Warsaw’s Brenna Morgan waves to the crowd after taking first place in the 50-yard freestyle Saturday afternoon at the Warsaw Girls Swimming Sectional. (Photos by Mike Deak)

“I had a lot of support from my teammates and felt good coming into today,” Morgan said. “I’m just excited to get down to state and keep pushing to see what can happen. It will be disappointing to not have my teammates down there swimming, too. But I’m excited to see what might happen.”

Morgan’s business as usual demeanor in the 50 and 100 allowed for some smiles, but produced a groan of disbelief after an amazing finish in the 200 free relay. Top-seed Rochester and two-seed Warsaw, along with Culver Academy, traded leads among the three for a good part of the first two legs of the race. Rochester’s Abigail McCarter gave Rochester a slight edge after the third leg while Warsaw’s Savannah Taylor kept close, giving anchor Morgan a chance against Rochester ace Madelyn Sailors.

Sailors, who was runner-up to Morgan in both the 50 and 100 finals, atoned for the losses by holding off a hard-charging Morgan in the final 20 feet. The touch by Sailors at 1:44.84 was gold to Morgan’s 1:44.88 silver. Rochester will move on to state, Warsaw’s relay stays home.

“Brenna made a comment that four-hundredths is faster than you can blink,” offered Warsaw head coach Tony DeBrota of the 200 relay final. “That’s the life of a sprint. When you are a 50 freestyle, that’s just what happens. You have to come to terms that a close race in a 200 free or 50 can be tenths or hundredths. Their goal coming in was 1:44, and they got there. Can’t complain about that.”

Warsaw’s Savannah Taylor in the 500 freestyle.

Erin Sandberg had a pair of top-threes for the Lady Tigers. Sandberg was a solid second in the 500 freestyle, going 5:42.94. Sandberg also finished third in the butterfly at 1:06.14. Jospehine Schott of Culver Academy won the 500 handily at 5:23.38 and Emma Helmich of Huntington North was the top flier at 1:03.36. Sandberg’s teammates Savannah Taylor (5:53.37) and Jess Haines (5:54.36) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 500 finals.

Rounding out Warsaw’s finals swims were Laurel Moeller fifth in the breaststroke (1:14.58), Taylor sixth in the individual medley (2:27.56), and Lauren Kuhl seventh in the backstroke (1:11.41) and eighth in the 200 free (2:16.77). The medley relay team from Warsaw finished second at 1:58.65 and the 400 free relay team was fifth at 4:08.34.

Warsaw diver Stephany Bailey was the only Tiger to perform and placed thirteenth with 257.85 points.

“Today was just a great day for Warsaw swimming going forward,” DeBrota said. “We lose only two seniors. We have a lot to look forward to given what we saw today. I’m really excited to see this bunch grow.”

Tippecanoe Valley’s Kate Gunter in the individual medley.

Tippecanoe Valley only had three finals swims Saturday, but used the experience in hopes of springboarding into next season. Kate Gunter placed fifth in the fly at 1:08.16 and Lea Stouder was eighth in the 50 at 28.12. Valley’s 200 free relay was eighth at 1:59.10.

Valley had two divers in the top eight, with Mia McHaffey sixth (291.90) and Caitlyn Bailey eighth (282.05).

Following a tearful embrace between Gunter and Valley coach Buddy Busby, the coach offered, “These kids trained very well. I’m pleased with what they have done. I think we have improved a great deal throughout the season. We have a lot of personal best times. It seems like someone swims their best meet of the season each time out, today included. I can’t complain. I’m very happy with it.”

Culver Academy had just three event champions on the day, but used a ton of depth in finals events to score 357 points to outdo Rochester’s 325 points. Warsaw were third at 290 and Logansport at 257 among contending teams. The Academy won its third sectional title overall, and the third in four years.

Winning titles for the Academy were Schott in the 500 and the 200 (1:58.87) and the 400 free relay team at 3:47.31.

Rochester had the top diver in Morgan Tyler at 384.65 points. Logansport’s Jennifer Crafford posted wins in the IM (2:17.92) and breaststroke (1:06.65) and the Logansport medley relay team took honors at 1:55.99. Rylee Hackworth of Columbia City won the backstroke with a time of 1:03.52.

Tyler, Kayla Hill of Pioneer, Darian Reynolds of Wabash and Jessica Winkel of Rochester will all advance to the Mishawaka Diving Regional Tuesday night in hopes of qualifying for state.

Morgan and the sectional champions will all move to Friday’s IHSAA Girls Swimming State Preliminaries at the IUPUI Natatorium. Prelims begin at 6 p.m., with the top 16 advancing to Saturday’s championship and consolation finals which begin at 1 p.m.